The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) and the National Tribal Waste and Response Assistance Program
(TWRAP) Steering Committee are proud to bring you the 2016 Tribal Lands and Environment: A National Conversation on
Tribal Land and Water Resources. This event is made possible by a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office
of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) and Office of Water (OW).
The Mohegan Tribe’s Royal Burial Ground. This site will be featured as a field trip opportunity to the Uncas Leap Heritage Area.
Conference Booklet
Tribal Lands and Environment Forum: A National
Conversation on Tribal Land and Water Resources
August 15-18, 2016
Mohegan Sun ~ Uncasville, Connecticut
Thank You to Our Host Tribe
The Tribal Lands and Environment Forum Team would like to sincerely
thank the many members and employees of the Mohegan Tribe for their
assistance and incredible generosity in planning this year’s Forum.
Their assistance proved invaluable in planning many special field trips,
providing a variety of artists who will be in the exhibitor/vendor area,
participating in both our opening and closing plenaries, and sharing their
stories in trainings and breakout sessions.
Throughout the Mohegan Sun you will find art and information that
highlights the stories and history of our host tribe. We also encourage you
to visit their website, which has a great deal of information about the
Mohegan Tribe, at mohegan.nsn.us/
Topic Page
About the Tribal Lands and Environment Forum ................................. 3
The Mohegan Tribe .................................................................................. 4
About ITEP, TWRAP, and the TWRAP Steering Committee ......... 5-6
Agenda At-a-Glance ............................................................................. 7-10
Detailed Agenda ................................................................................. 11-37
Trainings/Field Trips Monday, August 15……….……………….……11-13
Trainings/Field Trips Tuesday, August 16…….…….……………….14-16
Plenary/Breakout Sessions Tuesday, August 16 ............................... 17-19
Breakout Sessions Wednesday, August 17 ........................................ 20-27
Breakout Sessions Thursday, August 18 ............................................ 28-36
Closing Plenary and Your On-Site ITEP Team ...................................... 37
Speaker Bios ....................................................................................... 38-58
ITEP’s Online Trainings and Onsite Mentoring………………………..59
Silver Level Sponsors..……………………………………………………...60
Mohegan Sun Map ................................................................................... 61
Table of Contents
The 2016 Tribal Lands and Environment: A National Conversation on Tribal Land and Water Resources is a joint effort between the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP), The National Tribal Waste and
Response Assistance Program (TWRAP) Steering Committee, and USEPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) and Office of Water (OW). This is the sixth annual forum for environmental professionals
from tribes, EPA, State/Local/Federal agencies, and other interested parties to meet, share knowledge and learn
from one another how to improve management and protection of tribal lands and human health. Opportunities
for discussion of budget and policy issues as well as technical updates and information will be available throughout
the conference. Additionally, training sessions, tribe-to-tribe sharing, educational outreach projects, and many
more sessions will enhance both learning and networking among attendees. The Tribal Lands and Environment
Forum is made possible by funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Forum Staff On-site support staff are available to assist you during the forum and will be available at the registration table
located on the Ballroom Level—down the escalators from the Lobby Level.
Registration The Forum Registration table is available Sunday from 4:00pm to 6:00pm, Monday 6:30am to 6:00pm, and
Tuesday from 7:00am to 12:00pm, on the Ballroom Level. Attendees were asked to sign up in advance for
trainings and field trips; however, sign-up sheets will be available at the Registration table for those trainings
and field trips with space available.
Refreshments Light refreshments will be provided the morning of Monday, August 15, and the mornings and afternoons of
Tuesday through Thursday. Refreshments will be located near the Forum Registration Desk on the Ballroom
Level—down the escalators from the Lobby Level—in the Vendor/Exhibitor Room. (Salon D)
Raffle Each attendee will receive one ticket when they register at the desk. Drawings will take place at the registration
desk on Tuesday and Wednesday at noon. Winning numbers will be written up on the message board, so be sure
to stop by the registration desk to see if you’ve won. A final raffle drawing will take place during the closing
plenary on Thursday afternoon.
Photographs Photographs will be taken during this publicly-sponsored event. Photos will be used for outreach by ITEP in the
form of publications, websites, brochures, and other media.
Website for Conference Materials After the conference, please visit ITEP’s 2016 Tribal Lands and Environment Forum website to download
pictures, presentations, handouts and other materials from the conference. A networking list of all attendees
will also be available on this website. nau.edu/itep/main/conferences/confr_tlef
Evaluations Evaluations will be conducted online after the forum. Requests to complete evaluations will be emailed to all participants. You will also be able to access the evaluation through the Tribal Lands and Environment Forum
website at nau.edu/itep/main/conferences/confr_tlef
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About the Tribal Lands and Environment Forum
The Mohegan Tribe
The Mohegans were ancient members of the wolf clan of the Lenni Lenape (Delaware) nation, whose
ancestors migrated to Upstate New York, then on to what is now Connecticut. Their nickname was “Pequot
(aug),” meaning “invaders coming in.” In the early 1600's, a group of discontented “Pequots,” led by Uncas,
crossed over to the western bank of the Thames River, at Shantok, to form a separate tribe. Claiming the old clan
name of Mohegan, meaning “wolf people.” these Mohegans, under their new Sachem, Uncas (1598-1683), allied
with the English colonists within their territory, providing warriors and support for that Non-Indian community
from the Pequot War through the modern era.
By 1769, the young Connecticut Colony had outlawed the political authority of the Mohegan Sachemdom
and infringed, greatly, on tribal territories, including burial grounds. This negative climate inspired Mohegan minis-
ter, the Reverend Samson Occum (1723-1792) to lead an exodus of Christian Indians to the Oneida Indian
territory in Upstate New York. Occum created early writings in Native American Literature and went on to
found Dartmouth College. His sister, Lucy Occum Tantaquidgeon (1733-1830), remained on Mohegan Hill and
inspired the founding of Mohegan Church / School.
The Mohegan reservation had dwindled to a small territory by the 1800's, and between 1861 and 1873,
remaining reservation lands were transferred into fee simple, with the exception of the Mohegan Church, which
has always remained tribal land.
Modern Chiefs & Medicine Women
Twentieth century leaders included Chief Henry “Weegun” Mathews (1902-1903), Chief Lemuel
“Occum” Fielding (1903-1928), Chief Everett Fielding (1929-1935), Chief Julian “Peegee Uncas” Fielding (1935-
1937), Chief Burrill “Matahga” Fielding (1937-1952), Chief Ralph “G’tinemong” Sturges (1989-present), Medicine
Woman Emma Baker (1828-1916), and Medicine Woman Gladys Tantaquidgeon (1899-2005). The current
Medicine Woman is Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel. Since the 1990’s, Mohegans have been led by an elected Tribal
Council Chair, and a Chief who has maintained authority through traditional deference. The tribe’s current Chair
is Kevin “Red Eagle” Brown, a retired U.S. Army Colonel, and the Chief is Dr. Lynn “Many Hearts” Malerba.
Tantaquidgeon Museum
In 1931, John, Gladys and Harold Tantaquidgeon founded Tantaquidgeon Museum--- the oldest Indian-run
museum in America. Featured in the collection are Mohegan and eastern woodland artifacts.
Shantok, Village of Uncas
Long sacred to the Mohegan, this site, about mile north of the main reservation, became a state park, in
1926, and was repurchased by the tribe, in 1998. These lands are the site of Sachem Uncas’s original seventeenth
century village and fortification.
Federal Recognition & Reservation Return
In 1994, the Mohegan tribe received federal recognition of its sovereignty from the United States
Government, returning the tribe’s reservations lands to trust status the following year. Today, the tribe is a
thriving community of over 1,500 individuals, many of whom live in the surrounding area.
Please Note: The clipart included in this book depicts the Thirteen Moons of the Mohegan Tribe.
You can find these moons throughout the Mohegan Sun, so be sure to seek them out while visiting!
A History of the Mohegan Tribe
Page 4
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) was created to act as a catalyst among
tribal governments, research and technical resources at Northern Arizona University (NAU),
various federal, state and local governments, and the private sector, in support of environmental
protection of Native American natural resources. ITEP was established at NAU in 1992, and
accomplishes its mission through several programs.
Tribal Waste and Response Assistance Program (TWRAP):
TWRAP provides training and assistance to tribes in the areas of concern such as solid waste, brownfields,
contaminated sites, hazardous materials, underground storage tanks, and emergency response. TWRAP also
provides targeted assistance to Alaska Native Villages.
Tribal Solid Waste Education and Assistance Program (TSWEAP):
TSWEAP is dedicated to providing tribal professionals working in the field of solid waste with trainings, technical
assistance, peer-to-peer matching, and on-site mentoring opportunities. Assistance is provided with developing
and implementing Tribal Integrated Solid Waste Management Plans, Tribal solid waste codes, and a variety of
source reduction and waste diversion strategies.
Air Quality:
ITEP's American Indian Air Quality Training Program (AIAQTP) provides training and educational outreach for tribal
environmental staff all over the United States, including Alaska. The various projects and services provided by AIAQTP
include: Assisting in the building of tribal capacity for air quality management; Providing high-quality, up-to-date training that is
immediately relevant to tribes; Enhancing communication skills to promote collaboration and networking.
Tribal Air Monitoring Support (TAMS) Center:
One of the key components of ITEP's air quality program is the TAMS Center which was created through a partnership
between tribes, ITEP and the US EPA. It is the first technical training center designed specifically to meet the needs of tribes
involved in air quality management and offers an array of training and support services to tribal air professionals.
Climate Change:
ITEP has developed a resource and training program to address tribal climate change issues. ITEP’s efforts strive to help
tribes to better understand climate change and to develop strategies for dealing with changing climate patterns through
adaptation and mitigation, and emphasizes both science and traditional knowledge.
NEIEN:
ITEP is working with the Tribal Governance Group (TGG) and EPA’s Office of Environmental Information (OEI) to support
tribal involvement in the National Environmental Information Exchange Network (NEIEN or " Network"). The NEIEN is a
collaborative endeavor that strives to support better environmental decisions through improved exchange of, and access to,
environmental data and information. This effort will focus on expanding tribal participation in the NEIEN, which is guided by
representatives from States, Territories, Tribes, and EPA. ITEP will work with tribes to facilitate a unified tribal voice amongst
the NEIEN partners, and identify ways to help foster projects and initiatives that are both relevant and sustainable for tribes.
Education and Outreach:
The purpose of the Environmental Education Outreach Program (EEOP) is to interest Native American students in
environmental careers and to assist schools in improving environmental science literacy.
Resources:
ITEP provides a large number of resources for tribes on a variety of environmental issues. Many of these resources have been
collected from federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and other tribes. The resource clearinghouse is an invaluable asset
to tribes as they develop their environmental program capacity. ITEP programs rely heavily on tribal input and participation.
Tribal environmental professionals are recruited as instructors, researchers, advocates and collaborators, where their
expertise and experience serves as a valuable resource and contributes significantly to ITEP’s success.
Page 5
About ITEP
The Tribal Waste and Response Assistance Program Since 2008 ITEP has worked in cooperation with the USEPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) under the
Tribal Waste and Response Assistance Program (TWRAP). The activities of this program include:
Working with the TWRAP Steering Committee, a Tribal Partnership Group composed of tribal professionals
working in the fields of waste management, contaminated sites (including Superfund and federal facilities),
Underground Storage Tanks, brownfields, and emergency response programs. This steering committee works
closely with ITEP on all tasks associated with this program, and ensure a two-way communication between
tribes and OLEM.
Delivering the annual Tribal Lands and Environment Forum, as well as special trainings. You are at the sixth
Forum and we hope you find it interesting and useful!
Working with the Tribal Superfund Working Group, by coordinating national conference calls, developing
special online resources to assist tribal professionals working on Superfund-related issues, and conducting
special trainings at Superfund sites affecting tribal lands.
Conducting ongoing outreach to tribes, through our listserv, the bi-monthly e-newsletter Full Circle, and by
developing special online resources and mentoring opportunities, including our onsite mentoring project. To
learn more about onsite mentoring visit our website at: http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/Waste/waste_mentors
The TWRAP National Steering Committee
Since 2009, ITEP has been assisted in our work by the national Tribal Waste and Response Assistance Program (TWRAP)
Steering Committee. Through in-person meetings, conference calls, and attendance at ITEP events, committee members
make sure that both ITEP and OLEM are aware of tribal priorities and concerns. To this end they produce an annual Priority
Document that is shared with the National Tribal Caucus and senior management at USEPA. Steering committee members
also serve as instructors at ITEP courses, work as mentors to other tribal professionals, provide feedback to ITEP and OLEM
on program activities, and make this forum possible! Thank you to all the steering committee members—past and present—
for all their hard work Victoria Flowers, Oneida Nation
Alex James, Yakutat Tlingit Tribe
Tim Kent, Quapaw Tribe
Victoria (Sissy) Kotongan, Native Village of Unalakleet (chair)
Katie Kruse, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
Virginia LeClere, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
Arvind Patel, Pueblo of Acoma (vice-chair)
Rob Roy, La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians
Elliott Talgo, San Carlos Apache Tribe
John Wheaton, Nez Perce Tribe
About TWRAP
Page 6
Members of the TWRAP Steering
Committee meet with Mohegan Tribal
officials in April of 2016
Agenda ~ At a Glance
Tuesday Morning, August 16: Training Sessions
Oneida/Penobscot 8:00 am to 12:00 pm: Restoring the Carbon Nitrogen Balance of the Earth—Soil, Water, Species and Human
Safety
Passamaquoddy/
Brothertown
8:00 am to 12:00 pm: USEPA Exchange Network and E-Enterprise for the Environment—A Special Information
Sharing Event
Schaghticoke 8:00 am to 12:00 pm: Training/Exercise on Response to Crude Oil by Rail Incidents
Narragansett 8:00 am to 12:00 pm: Best Management Approaches to Remediation
Shinnecock/Nipmuc 8:00 am to 12:00 pm: Developing EPA-Tribal Environmental Plans (ETEPs) and Strategic Planning for Tribal
Environmental Programs
Abenaki 8:00 am to 12:00 pm: Communicating Water Through Story, Presentation, and Effective Messaging
Nehantic/Pequot 8:00 am to 12:00 pm: Water and Wastewater Utility Operation, Maintenance, and Management
(CEUs Provided) - Continued from Monday
Monday, August 15: Training Sessions and Field Trips
Oneida/Penobscot 10:00 am to 5:00 pm: Greening Tribal Facilities and Mohegan Sun Tour
Passamaquoddy/
Brothertown
8:00 am to 12:00 pm: 128(a) Tribal Response Program (Brownfields) 101
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm: Brownfields Tools to Engage Community and Assess Health Risks
Schaghticoke 8:00 am to 5:00 pm: Superfund Radiation Risk Assessment
Narragansett 8:00 am to 5:00: Eight Hour HAZWOPER Refresher
Shinnecock/Nipmuc
8:00 am to 5:00: Administering Environmental Protection Programs to Advance Tribal Environ-
mental Sovereignty and Self-Governance: The Continuing Relevance of EPA’s 1984 Indian Policy
and 1992 GAP Statute
Abenaki
8:00 am to 12:00 pm: National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) and Incident Command
System (ICS)
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm: Hazardous Waste Program Inspections and Emergency Response
Nehantic/Pequot 8:00 am to 5:00 pm: Water and Wastewater Utility Operation, Maintenance, and Management
(CEUs Provided) - Please note this training continues on Tuesday morning
Paugussett 8:00 am to 5:00 pm: One-On-One WQX Data Submission Assistance (Available throughout the
TLEF; appointments necessary—see page 13 for details)
Hotel Lobby 8:00 am to 5:00 pm: Field trip to the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site—meet in the hotel
lobby prior to 8:00 am as that is when the bus will leave
Page 7
Tuesday, August 16 - Field Trips: Meet in the Lobby prior to 8 am, when the bus departs
Hotel Lobby 8:00 am to 12:00 pm: Field Trip to North Haven RCRA Site (Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Facility
Hotel Lobby 8:00 am to 12:00 pm: Field Trip to Uncas Leap and Willimantic Whitewater Partnership Sites
Agenda ~ At a Glance
Page 8
Tuesday Afternoon, August 16: Opening Plenary
1:30 PM-3:00 PM: Uncas Ballroom, Lower Level
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Mohegan Tribe Color Guard and Welcoming Remarks
Invocation by Lynn Malerba, Mohegan Tribal Chief
Featured Speakers: Melissa Zobel, Mohegan Tribe’s Cultural and Community Program Executive
Director and Curt Spalding, USEPA Region 1 Administrator
Tuesday Afternoon, August 16: Breakout Sessions
3:30 PM-5:00 PM Break-Out Sessions
Oneida/Penobscot Developing and Implementing Tribal Solid and Hazardous Waste Programs Under GAP
Passamaquoddy/
Brothertown Phase I and II Site Assessments
Schaghticoke A Conversation with Nitin Natarajan, OLEM Deputy Assistant Administrator and Senior
Management for OSRTI, FFRRO, OCPA, OBLR, OEM, and ORCR
Narragansett Orientation to the UST Program and Been There, Done That: UST Program Implementation
Stories
Shinnecock/Nipmuc Environmental Justice, Tribes and Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change on Tribal Lands:
Approaches to Collaborative Adaptation
Abenaki The Penobscot River Restoration Project and Monitoring Water Quality and Benthic Macroinver-
tebrates Pre and Post Dam Removal on the Penobscot River Restoration Project
Nehantic/Pequot Tribal Infrastructure Task Force Meeting with members of the National Tribal Water Council, ITF
and USEPA
Wednesday Morning, August 17: Breakout Sessions
8:30 AM-10:00 AM Break-Out Sessions
Oneida/Penobscot Backhaul Successes from the North and Santa Ynez Chumash Zero Waste Initiatives
Passamaquoddy/
Brothertown Developing Tribal Cleanup Standards
Schaghticoke Mining on Tribal Lands
Narragansett Office Hours with Carolyn Hoskinson, OUST Director and Upcoming UST Regulatory Deadlines
Shinnecock/Nipmuc Drones and Their Use in Environmental Protection and How to Combine Tribal and Non-Tribal
Resources During Disasters
Abenaki
Management of the Ogallala Aquifer on the Rosebud Reservation
Nehantic/Pequot Establishing Tribal Water Quality Programs Under GAP and A Discussion with the National Tribal
Water Council and USEPA Office of Water Senior Management
Wednesday Morning, August 17: Multi Media Meetup
10:30 AM-12:00 PM: Uncas Ballroom, Lower Level
Join us in the Uncas ballroom during this breakout period for our first Multi Media Meetup.
Numerous information tables, demonstrations, and poster presentations will be available for you
during this special networking and educational event. See page 22 for more information.
Page 9
Agenda ~ At a Glance Wednesday Afternoon, August 17: Breakout Sessions
1:30 PM-3:00 PM Break-Out Sessions
Oneida/Penobscot USEPA Sustainable Management of Food Programs and the 2030 Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal and
The Mohegan Tribe’s Waste Food Recycling Program
Passamaquoddy/
Brothertown Office Hours with David Lloyd, OBLR Director
Schaghticoke Tribal Superfund Working Group Meeting
Narragansett
Things to Watch For When Using Commercial Insurance Policy As Your Financial Assurance Mechanism
Shinnecock/Nipmuc Enacting and Enforcing Tribal Law to Restore Natural Resources—Part One: The Tribal Law and How It
Works and Part Two: Applying the Tribal Law in a Workshop Setting (Continued at 3:30 pm)
Abenaki Developing a Clean Water Act Monitoring Program and Developing Clean Water Act Section 106
Assessment Reports
Nehantic/Pequot Breaking New Ground on Wetland Monitoring and Assessment—Newly Released Results of the 2011
National Wetland Assessment and Mannomin - Research, Restoration, Protection
Wednesday Afternoon, August 17: Breakout Sessions
3:30 PM-5:00 PM Break-Out Sessions
Oneida/Penobscot Interagency Infrastructure Taskforce Report on Solid Waste in Indian Country
Passamaquoddy/
Brothertown Prepare A Successful Site Specific Quality Assessment Project Plan Addenda (Phase II Work Plan)
Schaghticoke Grants Mining District, NM—Legacy Uranium Mining and Navajo Abandoned Uranium Mines
Narragansett
Emergency Spill Response Under OPA—A Tribal Perspective and ENIPC UST Site Vulnerability Study and
Program Updates
Shinnecock/Nipmuc Enacting and Enforcing Tribal Law to Restore Natural Resources—Part Three: The Role of Science and
Economics in Supporting Tribal Law and Part Four: Tribal Restoration Projects That Will Withstand the
Challenge of Climate Change
Abenaki Overview of Water Data Sharing Using WQX and Region 6 Water Quality Reporting Pilot
Nehantic/Pequot Protecting Tribal Reservation Waters Through Proposed Federal Tribal Water Quality Standards and Clean
Water Act Treatment As A State—New Developments and Opportunities
Thursday Morning, August 18: Breakout Sessions
8:30 AM-10:00 AM Break-Out Sessions
Oneida/Penobscot How to Prepare Now for the Future of Tribal Solid Waste Program Funding for Cleanups and
New Mexico State Government RAID Grants for Solid Waste Projects
Passamaquoddy/
Brothertown Outreach—Mohawk Style and Using Student Interns—Results Today, Investments for the Future
Schaghticoke Working with Tribes During Superfund Responses
Narragansett
Corrosion in Diesel Storage Tanks and Choctaw Nation Success with UST Regulatory Benefits
Shinnecock/Nipmuc Expediting the Federal Environmental Review Process in Indian Country
Abenaki Tribal Water Quality Standards—A Panel Presentation
Nehantic/Pequot PrivateWellClass.org—An Online Program for Educating Private Well Owners and Drinking Water
Utility Water Loss and Prevention
Agenda ~ At a Glance
Page 10
Thursday Morning, August 18: Breakout Sessions
10:30 AM-12:00 PM Break-Out Sessions
Oneida/Penobscot Managing and Transforming Waste Streams and Effectively Strategizing to Improve Solid Waste
Management in Santo Domingo Pueblo
Passamaquoddy/
Brothertown Tribal Response and Oversight and Brownfield RFP/TRP Success Stories
Schaghticoke Soil Sampling and Decision Making Using Incremental Sampling Methodology
Narragansett
PVIScreen—An Innovative Tool to Assess Petroleum Vapor Intrusion
Shinnecock/Nipmuc Innovative Strategies and Tools to Increase Sustainable Behaviors and Solar Projects in Indian
Country
Abenaki Understanding Harmful Algal Blooms and Their Potential Impacts and Muscogee (Creek) Nation—
Open Source Applications for Water Quality and Emergency Response
Nehantic/Pequot 10 Years at 10 PRB—Arsenic in Drinking Water and Protecting Tribal Homes and Infrastructure
from the Ravages of Climate Change at Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point
Thursday Afternoon, August 18: Breakout Sessions
1:30 PM-3:00 PM Break-Out Sessions
Oneida/Penobscot Make Your Voice Count in the RCRA Decision-Making Process and Are You Satisfied with Your
Outreach Efforts?
Passamaquoddy/
Brothertown Using Brownfields to Assess Tribal Housing Problems
Schaghticoke Tribal-Led Remediation at the Tar Creek Superfund Site and The Lake Superior Barrel Project
Narragansett
LUST Sites—Protecting Ground Water Supplies
Shinnecock/Nipmuc Rebuilding an Awesome Environmental Compliance Program on Akimel O’odham Land and USEPA
Guidance for Discussing Tribal Treaty Rights
Abenaki Idaho Tribal Fish Consumption Survey—Protecting High Fish Consumers Through the Clean Water
Act and Benefit of Sea-Run Alewives for Ecosystem Restoration and Food Fisheries
Nehantic/Pequot
Non-Point Source Restoration Activities Following Catastrophic Wildfires on the Fort Apache
Indian Reservation and Integrating the Protection of Healthy Waters in Tribal Clean Water Act
Section 319 and Other Water Quality Programs
Thursday Afternoon, August 17: Closing Plenary
3:30 PM-5:00 PM: Uncas Ballroom, Lower Level
3:30—4:00 pm Final raffle, closing remarks, and ‘A Taste of New England Summer’ Refreshments
4-00—5:00 pm Special Performances by Mohegan Tribal Drummers and final remarks from Lynn Malerba, Mohegan
Tribal Chief
Maple Sugar Moon
Page 11
Detailed Agenda ~ Monday, August 15 Time Topic Location
10:00 am - 5:00 pm Greening Tribal Facilities and Mohegan Sun Tour Oneida/Penobscot Details: This special six-hour training will look at a variety of strategies to increase the efficiency,
and overall environmental sustainability of Tribal facilities. Presenters will address issues such as
waste diversion, minimizing food waste, energy conservation, increasing energy efficiency, and oth-
er strategies. This training will also feature a tour of the many sustainability practices the Mohegan
Tribe has put into place at the Mohegan Sun. Instructors: Jean McInnis, Mohegan Tribe; Shannon Judd, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chip-
pewa; Julie Jurkowski, ITEP; Nitin Natarajan, USEPA
8:00 am—12:00 pm 128(a) Tribal Response Program (Brownfields) 101 Passamaquoddy/
Brothertown Details: This training is an introduction to the CERCLA 128(a) Tribal Response Program for Brownfields. This training is for tribal staff or managers that are relatively new to the Brownfields
program and the requirements of the US EPA 128(a) Tribal Response Program (TRP) grants. The
training will be based upon materials developed specifically for tribes by the trainer for the US EPA. Skills learned will be effective implementation of the 4 Elements of the US EPA 128(a) Grant. Out
comes will be the "establishment and enhancement" of the tribal brownfields program. No base
knowledge of the program is required for this session. Instructor: Mickey Hartnett, Envirofields
1:00 pm– 5:00 pm Brownfields Tools to Engage Community and Passamaquoddy/
Assess Health Risks Brothertown
Details: This interactive session will introduce tools and resources created by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) National Brownfields/Land Reuse Health Initiative. To
encourage "healthy redevelopment", ATSDR creates resources to help communities consider health
in revitalization plans. Three ATSDR resources will be discussed. The first is the ATSDR Brown-
fields/Land Revitalization Action Model, a four-step framework to engage communities in land reuse planning. The second is the ATSDR Brownfields/Land Reuse Site Tool. This Tool is an inventory da-
tabase and a rapid site screening/multiple chemical exposure dose calculating tool that allows users
to assess sites by past/future use, institutional controls, sensitive populations, and suspected or con-firmed contamination. The third is the ATSDR Dose Calculator, which is a computer program that
allows users to calculate the amount of a toxic substance an individual may be exposed to. Partici-
pants will practice using the ATSDR Action Model Toolkit, and should leave the session feeling confi-dent that they can replicate an Action Model process in their communities. Participants will also
practice using the ATSDR Brownfields/Land Reuse Site tool as well as the Dose Calculator to enter
an inventory and evaluate the public health implications of exposures based on sampling data.
Instructor: Gary Perlman, ATSDR
8:00 am—5:00 pm Superfund Radiation Risk Assessment Schaghticoke Details: This full-day advanced course focuses on specific technical and regulatory issues that site
managers and technical staff address when managing sites under the US EPA Superfund remediation
program that have a risk assessment conducted for radioactive contaminants. Participants will achieve the following objectives: •Learn a step-by-step approach to the Superfund remedial program
risk assessment process for radioactive contamination. The course discusses of the major steps in
Superfund remedial program risk assessment for radioactive contamination and the EPA recom-mended guidance documents and calculators and or models for conducting such risk assessments.
•Explore methods for conducting site-specific risk assessments. The course examines how to alter
the default input parameters in the Superfund remedial program risk and dose assessment calcula-tors. •Discover practical recommendations for improving the radiation risk assessments conducted
at your site. The course stresses some obvious and other less obvious aspects helpful in improving
the radiation risk assessment process. •Master information about the radiation risk assessment pro-
cess. Participants obtain information from experienced professionals about the radiation risk assess-ment process. The instructional methodology for this course includes lectures and demonstrations
of using EPA risk and dose assessment calculators developed by the Superfund remedial program.
Instructors: Stuart Walker, USEPA and Fred Dolislager, Oak Ridge National Lab
Page 12
8:00 am – 5:00 pm HAZWOPER 8-Hour Refresher Narragansett Details: This certification training course meets OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 standards for 8 hours
of refresher training for hazardous waste site workers. Course topics include OSHA regulations,
toxicology principles, work place hazards, personal protective equipment, hazardous chemicals,
and decontamination standards To be certified for HAZWOPER 8-hour Refresher, participants
must attend all eight hours and bring proof of completing the 40 Hour HAZWOPER and/or 8
Hour Refresher courses.
Instructor: Roberta Tohannie, ITEP
8:00 am – 5:00 pm Administering Environmental Protection Programs Shinnecock/
to Advance Tribal Environmental Sovereignty and Nipmuk
Self-Governance: The Continuing Relevance of EPA’s
1984 Indian Policy and 1992 GAP Statute Details: The 1984 “EPA Policy for the Administration of Environmental Programs on Indian
Reservations” and the 1992 “Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Act” (GAP) are
based on the notion that tribal governments are the appropriate non-Federal parties for carrying
out environmental program implementation responsibilities for Indian country. These documents
continue to guide EPA in its work with tribes and help EPA fulfill its mission in a manner that pro-
motes tribal “self-government.” This training session will cover the history and content of the
1984 Indian Policy and the 1992 GAP statute. Participants will learn: (1) The legal basis for EPA’s
tribal program as expressed through the 1984 Indian Policy; (2) The authority to fund tribal ca-
pacity to administer environmental protection programs under the GAP statute; and (3) how
these foundational documents continue to support tribal self-governance today.
Instructors: Professor James Grijalva, Director Northern Plains Indian Law Center’s Tribal
Environmental Law Project, University of North Dakota School of Law and Professor Eric Eberhard, Distinguished Indian Law Practitioner in Residence and Fellow, Center for Indian Law and
Policy, Seattle University School of Law
Moderator: Abby Kardel and Luke Jones, USEPA
8:00 am– 12:00 pm National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Abenaki
Incident Command System (ICS) Training Details: The first two hours of this training will introduce attendees to the National Incident
Response Management System (NIMS), the role of tribes in NIMS, and opportunities for tribal
assistance and capacity building by participating in NIMS and being able to effectively prepare and
respond to environmental and public health incidents in Indian Country. The afternoon session
will focus on providing tribal environmental leaders with the fundamental skills necessary to cre-
ate an effective response program.
Instructors: Gary Lipson and Nick Nichols, USEPA and Richard Quinlan, FEMA
1:00 pm– 5:00 pm Hazardous Waste Program Inspections & Emergency Response Abenaki Details: In this session GRIC DEQ will present information on how to conduct hazardous waste
and chemical safety inspections. This will include what we have learned from our experience with
program development, environmental law enforcement, safety, emergency response and other
aspects of implementing U.S. EPA and tribal programs. Information will include: • Common haz-
ardous chemicals and where they are found. • How to identify chemicals, chemical wastes, and
their hazards. • How to safely store chemicals and their wastes. • How to plan for and prevent
chemical emergencies • How to clean up chemicals when they spill or catch fire. • How to re-
spond to chemical emergencies, spills, fires, explosions and other releases. • Personnel safety and
sampling considerations. • EPA and tribal laws for site access and inspections. • How to conduct
chemical waste and safety inspections. • Designing tribal waste laws and integrated waste manage-
ment plans. • Practical examples and plans.
Instructors: Dale Anderson and Rudy Mix, Gila River Indian Community
Time Topic Location
Detailed Agenda ~ Monday, August 15
Page 13
Detailed Agenda ~ Monday, August 15 Time Topic Location
8:00 am– 5:00 pm Water & Wastewater Utility Operation, Maintenance Nehantic/
and Management Training Pequot Details: This workshop is designed for water & wastewater operators and managers to help in-
crease their skills and knowledge in the operation of water & wastewater treatment systems.
Over 600 participants have attended the same workshop in 17 locations with highly positive re-
views. The workshop will use presentations, case studies, and group exercises to promote utility
sustainability and instruct participants on how best to operate, troubleshoot, maintain and manage
drinking water & wastewater collection treatment and disposal systems, covering: • Water &
wastewater collection system management; • Water & wastewater treatment system operation
and maintenance (O&M); • Decentralized system O&M and management; • Operator and manage-
ment roles and responsibilities; • Developing rate structures to support utility operations; • Asset
management to ensure system sustainability; and • Resiliency planning to respond to and recover
from extreme events. This training will continue Tuesday morning and CEU credits will be availa-
ble.
Instructors: Mark Nelson and Joe Longo, Horsley Witten Group, Inc.
8:00 am—5:00 pm WQX Data Submission Opportunity Paugussett Additional times Details: We will work with you to schedule a one-on-one appointments for the Conference. We
available during have listed the available time slots below. Please note: appointments can be made to receive both
the TLEF WQX Web and WQX/Node submitting assistance. Each one-on-one appointment will review the
Tribe’s data, identify submission challenges and work to submit data and/or set up a plan to follow-
up with the Tribe to resolve any outstanding issues. We also welcome other non-appointment
visits, as we can still discuss data questions and set up a plan for follow-up as well.
Available Appointment Times
Monday, August 15th- 9am, 10:30am, 1pm, & 3:30pm
Tuesday, August 16th- 9am, 10:30 am, & 3:30pm
Wednesday, August 17th- 9am, 10:30am, 1pm, & 3:30pm
Thursday, August 18th - 9am, 10:30am, & 1pm
If you are interested in scheduling an individual appointment during the TLEF please email
[email protected]. In the subject line please write WQX Appointment Request.
Include in your email message the following information:
Tribe’s Name
Primary Contact Name
Primary Contact Phone
Primary Contact Email
Your 1st, 2nd, & 3rd time preferences for appointments.
If you know your Org ID & User ID, please include that information as well.
A summary of the assistance you will require
8:00 am—5:00 pm Field Trip to New Bedford Harbor Hotel Lobby Details: New Bedford Harbor is an 18,000 acre Superfund site that is an urban tidal estuary with
sediments which are highly contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals.
At least two manufacturers in the area used PCBs while producing electric devices from 1940 to
the late 1970s. These facilities discharged industrial wastes containing PCBs directly into the har-
bor and indirectly through the city sewer system. EPA has been performing hydraulic dredging of
the harbor since 2004. EPA also performs air monitoring during the active cleanup of New Bedford
Harbor to confirm that the dredging, de-sanding, de-watering or water treatment operations do
not cause elevated levels of airborne PCBs that could pose an unacceptable risk to public health.
Please Note: The bus will be leaving for this all-day field trip at 8:00 am, so be down in the hotel
lobby early to make sure you don’t miss the bus! Attendees pre-registered for this field trip. If you
are on the waiting list for this trip, be at the bus and we will get you on if there are any available
seats.
Page 14
8:00 am – 12:00 pm Restoring the Carbon Nitrogen Balance of the Earth: Oneida/
Soil, Water, Species and Human Safety Penobscot Details: Restoring the Carbon Nitrogen Balance of the Earth: Soil, Water, Species and Human
Safety: Tribal, local knowledge and the practice of validated ecological design and engineering
have many and fruitful overlapping sets of know-how and protocols, with many successful, built
examples. The presenters will provide through brief lectures and hands on work with workshop
participants, in a charrette type set-up, learnings on how to devise culturally relevant and effec-
tive infrastructure and building projects that exploit the fecund earth, water, sky, and species
bounty of Native America for a safe and sustainable future in the face of climate change adapta-
tion. Such planning and projects use the fantastic wealth of Native American landscape/seascape
assets for providing secure and healthy food supplies, energy resources, environmental and future
proofed compliance, while at the same time affording Tribal governments and tribal entrepre-
neurs ready, proven business opportunities for profitable industries for both domestic consump-
tion and export to the United States.
Instructors: John Todd, Professor Emeritus of University of Vermont and President of John Todd Ecolog-
ical Design; Robert Gough, Intertribal Council on Utility Policy; Brian Thunderhawk, Standing Rock Sioux
Tribe; Dr. David Benjamin, better Inc.
8:00 am – 12:00 pm USEPA Exchange Network and E-Enterprise for the Passamaquoddy/
Environment: A Special Information Sharing Event Brothertown Details: This special four-hour training and information sharing event will introduce attendees to
a variety of tools and resources to assist them in managing their environmental programs. This
training and sharing event will include the following topics and presenters: • Introduction by Trib-
al and USEPA Staff – Featuring BryAnna Vaughan, Bishop Paiute Tribe and Angie Reed, Penobscot
Nation; Andy Battin, USEPA E-Enterprise for the Environment and Matt Leopard, USEPA Office
of Environmental Information • Successful Tribal Environmental Network Projects: Featuring Bry-
Anna Vaughan, Bishop Paiute Tribe and Angie Reed, Penobscot Nation • Utilizing the Exchange
Network to Update Tribal Facility Registry Services (FRS) Data: Featuring David Smith, USEPA
Office of Environmental Information • Tribal Road Map for Water Quality (A Joint Tribal/USEPA
Governance Project): Featuring Angie Reed, Penobscot Nation and Laura Shumway, USEPA Of-
fice Of Water • Panel Discussion with EPA and Tribal Staff: Featuring BryAnna Vaughan, Bishop-
Paiute Tribe and Angie Reed, Penobscot Nation; Andy Battin, USEPA E-Enterprise for the Envi-
ronment and Matt Leopard, USEPA Office of Environmental Information; and Lynn Capuano, E-
Enterprise/Exchange Network Executive Coordinator
8:00 am—12:00 pm Training/Exercise on Response to Crude Oil Schaghticoke
By Rail Incidents Details: This 4 hour awareness level session is designed for Tribal officials involved in contin-
gency planning, emergency management , environmental protection and public safety whose job
functions may cause them to be involved in railroad accident response involving High Hazard
Flammable Liquids ( HHFTs) such as Bakken crude oil and ethanol. The training will be a custom-
ized version of an 8 hour version which is currently being presented at multiple venues in EPA
Region 5, where audience sizes range from 50-200 participants. Participants have included Tribal,
local non –Tribal, and state and federal response agencies. The training content includes modular
presentations focused on: • Planning and preparedness, • Response regulations, • Incident man-
agement principles, • Response Organization, • Railroad Resources, Hazard Evaluation and Risk
Assessment, • Operational Tactics and Strategies, • Personal Protective Equipment, • Public
health and Worker safety, • post emergency environmental cleanup and monitoring, • Case stud-
ies of actual response to recent railroad crude oil events. The session will conclude with a simple
tabletop exercise/panel discussion of response considerations relating to a hypothetical incident
depicted in a video animation. This is designed with the intent to provide audience members with
an opportunity to apply concepts emphasized in the modules.
Presenters: Ralph Dollhopf and Paul Ruesch, USEPA; Ryan Prewitt, CSX Transportation
Time Topic Location
Detailed Agenda ~ Tuesday, August 16
Page 15
Detailed Agenda ~ Tuesday, August 16 Time Topic Location
8:00 am – 12:00 pm Best Management Approaches to Remediation Narragansett
Details: USEPA’s Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST) and Office of Superfund Remedi-
ation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI) developed training on best practices for site assessment
and remediation. The course explores experiences and resulting best practices from extensive
work at underground storage tank (UST), Brownfields, and Superfund sites. This session includes a
perspective on corrective action at leaking UST sites on the Oglala Lakota Nation and topics such
as innovative analytical techniques, sampling strategies, and remediation technologies that can be
applied at sites contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents or other constit-
uents. This session provides an overview of best practices associated with site characterization
such as use of a conceptual site model life cycle, direct sensing tools, collaborative data sets, and
high-resolution site characterization techniques. The focus includes best practices, considerations,
challenges, and innovative strategies to optimize remediation approaches at petroleum contaminat-
ed sites. Remediation technologies include those commonly performed at petroleum sites such as
soil vapor extraction, air sparging, pump and treat, as well as more commonly used in situ technol-
ogies such as chemical oxidation and enhanced biological processes.
Presenters: Steve Dyment, USEPA
8:00 am – 12:00 pm Developing an EPA-Tribal ETEP— Shinnecock/
A Step by Step Blueprint AND Strategic Nipmuk
Planning for Tribal Environmental Programs Details: An EPA-Tribal Environmental Plan (ETEP) can help a tribe achieve its environmental and
sustainability goals in the most effective, enduring manner possible. An ETEP can be a strategic
work plan that keeps your programs on track and maximizes the use of available resources, and
becomes the most important and powerful tool that a tribal environmental program develops
and implements. During this session, the presenter will describe what an ETEP is, where it came
from, what its purpose is, and what it is supposed to include. The presenter will show a step-by-
step process on how to prepare a living, adaptable ETEP and how this approach has been applied
at multiple tribal environmental departments. It will also be explained how an ETEP can be used
to produce GAP work plans on an ongoing basis, and how an ETEP can be used to guide all other
environmental programs and initiatives.
Details: Developing and implementing a strategic plan is perhaps the most important and powerful
activity that any organization can undertake. Effective strategic planning and management clarifies
an organization’s highest goals, creates and maintains alignment with those goals, and optimizes
resources. When done well, strategic planning and management also leads to manageable and pro-
active shifts in an organization’s direction when circumstances inevitably change. During this ses-
sion, the presenter will describe the elements and process of developing and implementing a
“living” strategic plan that is designed to be utilized on an ongoing basis to guide tribal environmen-
tal programs. It will be explained how a strategic plan can be linked to an EPA-Tribal Environmen-
tal Plan (ETEP) in a seamless manner, resulting in a system that will allow an environmental pro-
gram to organize, track, and report objectives, performance metrics, resources, and other im-
portant information. The presenter will share examples of how these strategic planning tools and
process has been applied at multiple tribal environmental departments.
Presenter: Josh Simmons, Prosper Sustainably
8:00 am—12:00 pm Water & Wastewater Utility Operation, Maintenance Nehantic/
and Management Training (Continued from Monday) Pequot
Details: This is a continuation of the training started on Monday.
Please see page 13 for details on this training.
Page 16
8:00 am – 12:00 pm Communicating Water Through Story,
Presentation and Effective Messaging Abenaki Details: Communicating Water is designed to help Tribal Utility and Environmental Programs
tell a better story and deliver a stronger message about the importance of protecting and con-
serving water. Participants will learn and practice new techniques and approaches to presenting
the work they do to protect Tribal water resources. This workshop is designed to: a) improve
participant's ability to turn dry numbers into a compelling story, and b) help students create the
key elements of an effective messaging campaign so they can build their story and take it to the
Tribal Community and Council. The workshop will be broken into the three following sessions.
1. Connecting with Others Through Story: What makes an effective story? Why is story im-
portant to moving your audience and how does it trigger action? Participants will understand the
concepts and construction of a powerful story in order to be able to use story as a tool to move
forward issues with limited visibility or that are contentious. This session will include a group
storytelling exercise. 2. Crafting a Presentation That Inspires: Learn how you can make a more
effective and powerful Powerpoint presentation. Understand the structure and tools needed for
effective technical or non-technical presentations to diverse audience types. Participants will learn
to incorporate multi-media to create a visually striking and compelling presentation. 3. Framing
Your Message: Learn techniques to develop a strong and persuasive message, framed for your
audience. Build on the techniques above (storytelling, powerful presentations) to create a mes-
sage that will motivate your community. Participants will learn a simple problem-solution-action
approach to developing a powerful message. This session will include a group messaging exercise.
Presenter: Sarah Diefendorf, EFCWest
8:00 am—12:00 pm Field Trip to North Haven RCRA Site Hotel Lobby Details: This site is Region 1’s flagship RCRA Corrective Action site. Components of the reme-
dy include a pump and treat system, a one mile hydraulic barrier wall, in situ thermal remediation,
and onsite soil/sediment management. The site-wide remedy allows for future redevelopment of
the property’s west side for commercial or light industrial use; the restoration of more than 60
acres of wetlands and meadow habitat along the Quinnipiac River; and walking trails for guided
viewing and interpretative environmental education. Please Note: The bus will be leaving for this
morning field trip at 8:00 am, so be down in the hotel lobby early to make sure you don’t miss
the bus! Attendees pre-registered for this field trip. If you are on the waiting list for this trip, be
at the bus and we will get you on if there are any available seats.
8:00 am—12:00 pm Field Trip to Uncas Leap/Willimantic Sites Hotel Lobby Details: Uncas Leap Falls is a 1.2 acre parcel in Norwich, CT. The site overlooks the Yantic Riv-
er and majestic Yantic Falls. It consists of a two-story granite mill building constructed in the
1830s, a one-story brick mill building, a gravel parking area and limited green space. The site has
previously been utilized for the manufacturing of goods. The importance of Uncas Leap Falls is
not just in the architectural character of its buildings, but in its significant contributions Sachem
Uncas made to the Mohegan Tribe. The site has held a sacred place in the history of the Mohe-
gan Tribe since 1648. The Willimantic Site is approximately 3.45 acres in size and currently con-
tains one building, a former gas station. Past uses at the site include: a textile mill from 1820-
1940; building materials salvage yard, including dismantling of stone mill buildings, until circa 1960;
and a gasoline station/fuel oil depot/car wash from circa 1962 to circa 2002. Soil at the site is
contaminated with polyaromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals. The Willimantic Whitewater
Partnership group has played an integral role in remediating this site. The Willimantic White-
water Partnership (WWP) is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to recapturing
the waterfront of the Willimantic River. In particular, the Partnership seeks to increase safe ac-
cess to the river for residents through the development of an urban waterfront park, restore fish
passage through dam modification and in-stream habitat improvements, and establish the first
public whitewater park in the region. Please Note: The bus will be leaving for this morning field
trip at 8:00 am, so be down in the hotel lobby early to make sure you don’t miss the bus! At-
tendees pre-registered for this field trip. If you are on the waiting list for this trip, be at the bus
and we will get you on if there are any available seats.
Time Topic Location
Detailed Agenda ~ Tuesday, August 16
Detailed Agenda ~ Tuesday, July 13
1:30 - 1:50 pm Mohegan Tribe Color Guard Uncas Ballroom
1:50 - 2:25 pm Welcoming Remarks and Invocation Uncas Ballroom
Ann Marie Chischilly, ITEP Executive Director
Lynn Malerba, Mohegan Tribal Chief
Nitin Natarajan, USEPA OLEM Deputy Assistant Administrator
Jane Nishida, USEPA OITA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator
2:25 - 3:00 pm Featured Speakers Uncas Ballroom
Melissa Zobel, Mohegan Tribe’s Cultural and
Community Program Executive Director
Curt Spalding, USEPA Region 1 Administrator
Page 17
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm ··················· Opening Plenary Session ····················· 1:30 am - 3:00 pm
Detailed Agenda ~ Tuesday, August 16
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm ························· Breakout Sessions ························· 3:30 pm - 12:00 pm
Developing and Implementing Tribal Solid
and Hazardous Waste Programs Under
GAP
~ Oneida/Penobscot~
Details: The Indian Environmental General Assistance Pro-
gram (GAP) authorizes EPA to provide financial assistance
for the development and implementation of tribal solid and
hazardous waste management programs consistent with the
Solid Waste Disposal Act (also known as the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act). This presentation will
cover the tribal waste management program capacities that
can be established under GAP, and that provide an essential
foundation for successful program implementation. The
session will also describe allowable and unallowable solid
waste program implementation activities under GAP with
special emphasis on EPA’s authority to fund solid waste and
recovered materials collection, transportation, backhaul,
and disposal services through Fiscal Year 2020, as stated in
the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Act. Present-
ers will illustrate how effective strategic planning for tribal
waste management and source separation program devel-
opment and implementation can help ensure tribal program
goals are achieved. Presenters will field questions from at-
tendees and reference EPA grant guidance documents.
Presenters: Luke Jones and Charles Reddoor, USEPA
Moderator: Abby Kardel, USEPA
A Conversation with Senior Staff from
USEPA Office of Land and
Emergency Management
~ Schaghticoke~
Details: This special “office hours” conversation with
USEPA's Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM)
will feature Nitin Natarajan, OLEM’s Deputy Assistant Ad-
ministrator, as well as Office Directors from the Office of
Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, Federal
Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office, Office of Brownfields
and Land Revitalization, Office of Communications, Partner-
ships, and Analysis, Office of Emergency Management, and
Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery. OLEM major
program areas will be discussed, as well as tribal program
priorities and strategies. Office Director's will be available to
answer questions, as well as share information about EPA
initiatives. Presenters: Nitin Natarajan, OLEM Deputy Assistant
Administrator; Jim Wollford, OSRTI Director; Robin
Richardson, OSRTI Deputy Director; Mary Cooke, FFRRO;
David Lloyd, OBLR Director; Brigid Lowery, OCPA Director;
Kent Benjamin, OCPA Deputy Director; Kathleen Salyer,
ORCR Deputy Director; Rebecca Clark, OEM Acting Deputy
Director
Moderator: Kent Benjamin, USEPA OCPA Deputy Director
Moon of the
Peeping Frogs
Detailed Agenda ~ Tuesday, July 13
Page 18
Detailed Agenda ~ Tuesday, August 16
The Penobscot River Restoration Project
AND
Monitoring Water Quality and Benthic
Macroinvertebrates Pre and Post Dam Removal
~ Abenaki~
Details: The Penobscot River Restoration Project is a land-
scape scale river restoration project designed to bring back
11 species of migratory fish to the Penobscot Indian Reser-
vation. It involves the removal of two main stem dams be-
tween the tribes reservation and the Atlantic Ocean, and
the building of a nature-like fish bypass channel around a
third dam.
Presenter: John Banks, Penobscot Nation
Details: The Penobscot River Restoration Project presents
a great opportunity to understand how water quality and
aquatic life changes with dam removal. This presentation
will describe the monitoring being done by the Penobscot
Nation Water Resources Program to document water qual-
ity and benthic macroinvertebrate community structure
before and after the removal of two main-stem Penobscot
River Dams. I will present the methods used and some of
the results to date.
Presenter: Dan Kusnierz, Penobscot Nation and National
Tribal Water Council member
Moderator: Victoria Kotongan, Native Village of Unala-
kleet and TWRAP Steering Committee chair
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm ························· Breakout Sessions ··························· 3:30 am - 5:00 pm
Environmental Justice, Tribes, and
Indigenous Peoples
AND
Climate Change on Tribal Lands:
Approaches to Collaborative Adaptations
~ Shinnecock/Nipmuc~
Details: The EPA Policy on Environmental Justice for Work-
ing with Federally Recognized Tribes and Indigenous Peoples
is in its second year of implementation and EPA's new five
year environmental justice strategy, EJ 2020 Action Agenda,
identifies specific measures for furthering environmental jus-
tice for tribes and indigenous peoples throughout the United
States. The session will discuss the core components of both
the Policy and the Strategy and some of the successful efforts
to implement environmental justice in Indian country and
with indigenous peoples.
Presenters: Danny Gogal, USEPA Office of Environmental
Justice; Dona Harris, USEPA AIEO; Randy Gee, USEPA Re-
gion 6
Details: Tribal lands, waters, and habitats are facing severe
threats from the impacts of climate change. This session will
focus on how partnerships between Tribes and non-Tribal
partners can enhance and support strategies for climate
change adaptation. Collaborating with both government agen-
cies and non-governmental organizations allows tribes to
leverage financial, scientific, and community support for adap-
tation strategies that are beneficial to both tribes and the
broader region. In this session, the participants will learn
about successful partnerships and projects undertaken by the
Pala Environmental Department and will hear about how they
can create similar partnerships of their own. The session will
solicit examples and feedback from participants about their
own experiences so that attendees can hear about what has
worked for others.
Presenters: Shasta Gaughen, Heidi Brow, and Kurt Broz,
Pala Band of Mission Indians; Amber Pairis, the Climate Sci-
ence Alliance—South Coast
Moderator: Alex James, Yakutat Tlingit Tribe and TWRAP
Steering Committee member
NOTES:
Moon of the
Corn Planting
Page 19
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm ························· Breakout Sessions ··························· 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Detailed Agenda ~ Tuesday, August 16
Tribal Infrastructure Task Force Meeting
~ Nehantic/Pequot~
Details: USEPA leads a multi-agency tribal Infrastructure
Task Force (ITF) to develop and coordinate federal activi-
ties in delivering water infrastructure, wastewater infra-
structure and solid waste management services to tribal
communities. We will explore some commonalities among
tribes that have helped to improve the sustainability of their
water and wastewater infrastructure. Topics may include,
and are not limited to: Maintain Utility Independence, Train
and Retain Operators, Run the Utility as a Business, Estab-
lish a Fair and Accepted Billing and Collection System, Edu-
cate Consumers and the Tribe, and Utility Subsidization.
We would like to hold a formal ITF full member public
meeting / call with the ~20 tribal ITF representatives and
anyone else interested.
Presenters: Ken Norton Director, Hoopa Valley Tribe
and Chair of the National Tribal Water Council; John
Wheaton, Emergency Management Planner, Nez Perce
Tribal Nation and TWRAP Steering Committee member;
Shaun Livermore, Utility Manager, Poarch Band of Creek
Indians and National Tribal Water Council member; John
Nichols, Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative Manager, Alaska
Native Tribal Health Consortium; and Sheila Frace, Deputy
Office Director, USEPA Office of Wastewater Management
Moderator: Mark Nelson, Principal Horsely Witten
Group
An Orientation to the UST Program
~ Narragansett~
Details: This session will provide an overall introduction and
orientation to the underground storage tank program. Car-
olyn Hoskinson, the Office Director of USEPA’s Office of
Underground Storage Tanks, and Victoria Flowers, environ-
mental specialist for the Oneida Nation, will be the featured
speakers.
Presenter: Victoria Flowers, Oneida Nation and Carolyn
Hoskinson, OUST Director
Phase I and Phase II Site Assessments ~ Passamaquoddy/Brothertown~
Details: A general overview of the standard practices in
conducting an environmental site assessment, to address
the “All-Appropriate-Inquiry” (AAI) aspect to the Compre-
hensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liabil-
ity Act (CERCLA) CERCLA contains policy and procedures
for containing or removing hazardous substances that have
been released and provides funding and guidance for clean
up. The Phase I ESA four components as described records
review, site reconnaissance, interviews, and evaluation and
report preparation. Phase II assessment process includes
sampling and laboratory analysis to confirms presence of
hazardous substances or petroleum products identify recog-
nized environmental conditions providing Phase I identifies
potential contamination. The ESA outline site investigations
needs, and remedial actions that may be required to clean
up the property. You know if your site is contaminated.
What should be done to clean it up?
Presenters: Quinton Jacket, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and
Colin Larrick, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and National Tribal
Water Council member
Moderator: Arvind Patel, Pueblo of Acoma and TWRAP
Steering Committee vice-chair
NOTES:
Moon of the
Strawberry
Page 20
8:30 - 10:00 am ····························· Breakout Sessions ······························· 8:30 - 10:00 am
Detailed Agenda ~ Wednesday, August 17
Backhaul Successes in the North
AND
Santa Ynez Chumash
Zero Waste Initiatives
~ Oneida/Penobscot~
Details: For the past six years the Bering Strait Region in
northwest Alaska has sent out lead-acid batteries, fluores-
cent bulbs, electronic waste, and other material to be recy-
cled in Seattle, Washington. This Alaskan region is the size
of the state of Indiana but has no connecting roads between
villages and relies on small bush planes and barges for trans-
portation. Twenty tribes reside within the 16 communities
of our region and have EPA IGAP staff dedicated to remov-
ing hazardous materials from their villages all year round.
Come to this session to learn more about how an Alaskan
region created a system of backhauling that might apply to
your program.
Presenters: Anahma Shannon, Kawerak, Inc.
Details: This session will discuss Santa Ynez Chumash's
Zero Waste Initiatives as they have developed with the
tribe's Intertribal Pow Wow and the Chumash Casino's
Food and Beverage team. It will cover smaller scale Zero
Waste events to larger events, and how they are communi-
cated, tracked, and improved upon each year. We will also
look at what new recycling initiatives the Chumash Casino is
working on including food, FOG, and styrofoam waste.
Presenters: Kelly Schmandt Ferguson, Santa Ynez Band of
Chumash Indians Moderator: Rob Roy, La Band of Luiseno Indians and
TWRAP Steering Committee member
Mining on Tribal Lands
~ Schaghticoke ~ Details: This session will explore the basics of mining on
tribal lands through stories and hands-on activities. The
mission of the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Mineral Re-
sources Program is to protect and develop the mineral re-
sources of the Tohono O’odham Nation as directed by the
Nation’s leadership. This is no small task considering two
large active copper mines, over a hundred patented and
unpatented mining claims, and hundreds of abandoned mine
sites are on the Nation! Participants will learn fundamental
concepts of the history of mining, the mining lifecycle, po-
tential positive tribal gains, “multi-media” environmental
concerns (hazardous/solid waste, air, land, water, human
health), ideas for tribal outreach, and some options for sov-
ereign involvement. No previous mining knowledge is re-
quired.
Presenter: Laurie Suter, Tohono O’odham Nation
Moderator: Tim Kent, Quapaw Tribe and TWRAP Steer-
ing Committee member
Developing Tribal Cleanup Standards
~ Passamaquoddy/Brothertown~
Details: This panel will discuss the process for developing
and implementing tribal cleanup standards, from both a pro-
gram-based and a legal perspective. It will cover topics such
as the benefits to tribes of having their own cleanup stand-
ards, authorities needed to issue the standards, applicability
of the tribal standards, and comparisons to federal stand-
ards. Participants will obtain an understanding of the infor-
mation needed to develop cleanup standards and the issues
that might arise in implementing them.
Presenters: Susan Hanson, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes;
Henry Haven, Navajo Nation; Jill Grant, Jill Grant & Associ-
ates
Office Hours with Carolyn Hoskinson,
Director of OUST
AND
Upcoming UST Regulatory Deadlines
~ Narragansett ~
Details: Carolyn Hoskinson, Director of US EPA’s Office of
Underground Storage Tanks, will be holding “office hours”
where those involved with UST/LUST issues may have infor-
mal discussions with her and her staff.
Presenter: Carolyn Hoskinson, OUST Director
Details: Upcoming UST Regulatory Deadlines will provide
an overview of the new, updated federal UST regulations,
and implementation dates to comply with the require-
ments. Attendees will be provided resources for tribal own-
ers and operators to help them comply with the UST regu-
lation.
Presenter: Mark Barolo, OUST Deputy Director
Thunder Moon
Page 21
8:30 - 10:00 am ····························· Breakout Sessions ······························· 8:30 - 10:00 am
Detailed Agenda ~ Wednesday, August 17
Drones and Their Use in
Environmental Protection
AND
How to Combine Tribal and Non-Tribal
Resources During Disasters
~ Shinnecock/Nipmuc ~
Details: This session will provide examples of how the Ak-
Chin have been using drones in flood management, water
quality 106 program, Wetlands Demonstration projects and
habitat documentation. We will explore information on
drone flight policies, and Standard Operational Procedures
and Issues of concern with drones flying on tribal lands.
Presenter: Dale Ohnmeiss, Ak-Chin Indian Community
Details: This session will give an overview of how tribal
emergency management programs can effectively work with
other tribal and non tribal agencies to best serve their com-
munities in disaster response, as well as available training.
Presenter: Kellie Poolaw, Caddo County, Oklahoma,
Emergency Management
Management of Ogallala Aquifer
on the Rosebud Reservation
~ Abenaki ~
Details: This session will focus on the assessment, evalua-
tion, monitoring, protection, and development of the
groundwater of the Ogallala Aquifer. The presenter will
cover the following areas: Location of monitoring wells,
generation of isopach maps, hydrographs of water table
fluctuation, potentiometric surface maps, ground water flow
direction, hydrologic budget, potential sources of contami-
nation, water samples collection and testing, source water
protection and Rosebud Rural Water Development for
domestic, municipal and industrial use. Water code and
jurisdictional issues will also be discussed.
Presenter: Syed Y. Huq, Rosebud Sioux Tribe
Moderator: John Wheaton, Nez Perce Tribe and TWRAP
Steering Committee
Establishing Tribal Water Quality
Programs Under USEPA’s Indian
General Assistance Program (GAP)
AND
A Discussion with the National Tribal
Water Council and USEPA Office of Water
Senior Management
~ Nehantic/Pequot ~
Details: The Indian Environmental General Assistance Pro-
gram (GAP) authorizes EPA to provide financial assistance
to tribes for planning, developing, and establishing their ca-
pacity to implement tribal water quality programs con-
sistent with the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Safe
Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This session will cover the
water quality program capacities tribes can establish under
GAP and illustrate how effective strategic planning for tribal
water quality program development and implementation
can improve leveraging opportunities between GAP and
other EPA grant programs. Presenters will field questions
from attendees and reference EPA grant guidance docu-
ments.
Presenters: Luke Jones and Robyn Delehanty, USEPA
Details: This special hybrid of Tribal & EPA “Office Hours”
will provide attendees with the opportunity to have an in-
formal conversation with senior staff from EPA’s Office
Water and members of the National Tribal Water Council
on clean water and drinking water topics and issues of in-
terest in Indian country. The National Tribal Water Council
is comprised of technical and managerial Tribal Environmen-
tal Professionals in the field of Water, and advocates for the
health and sustainability of clean and safe water, and for the
productive use of water for the health and well-being of
Indian Country, Indian communities, Alaska Native Tribes
and Alaska Native Villages. The NTWC and EPA Office of
Water are partnering on several tribal water initiatives im-
portant to Indian Country. Come Meet the Council and
EPA managers, learn more about what all they do, and ask
questions on the water topics that are important to you.
Presenters: Ken Norton, chair, and other members of the
National Tribal Water Council; Senior management from
USEPA’s Office of Water and Office of Wastewater Man-
agement
Moderator: Abby Kardel and Felicia Wright, USEPA
Please join us in the Uncas Ballroom for our first Multi Media Meetup. This special networking and edu-
cational gathering will feature all of the vendors and exhibitors at this year’s TLEF, as well as numerous
special information tables, demonstrations, and poster presentations by your fellow attendees. This is
an excellent opportunity to network with others as well as learn about some of the services, projects,
and activities taking place around the country to help protect Tribal lands, waters, and communities.
During the Multi Media Meetup you can visit information tables by:
Page 22
10:30 - 12:00 pm ························· Multi Media Meetup ··························· 10:30 - 12:00 pm
Detailed Agenda ~ Wednesday, August 17
Reforest the Tropics
Citizen’s Climate Lobby
Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe
Native Village of Unalakleet
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
Tohono O’odham Nation Mining Office
Santa Rosa Rancheria
Santo Domingo Tribe & San Felipe Pueblo
E-Enterprise/Exchange Network and Tribes Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, Inc.
National Tribal Water Council
TWRAP Steering Committee
Northern Arizona University Biology Department
Kansas State University TAB Program
New Jersey Institute of Technology TAB Program
Environmental Finance Center West
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
TK Authentic Arts and Crafts
Spirit Dancer
Several Mohegan Tribe Artists
Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council
TRC
Prosper Sustainably
Campbell Environmental Group, Inc.
Industrial Economics Inc. (IEc)
Flow West
AWQMS/Gold Systems
Ridolfi, Inc.
YSI Systems
Eco Analysts, Inc.
Eurofins Spectral Analytical, Inc.
Encourage Capital
Zender Environmental Health & Research Group
USEPA Superfund Remedial Program
USEPA ORCR and TSWAN
USEPA FFRRO
USEPA Region 9 128(a) Program
USEPA Region 1 Tribal Response Program
USEPA OEM
USEPA OLEM Tribal Coordinators
USEPA OWWM
USEPA OUST
USEPA OBLR
USEPA Toxics Release Inventory Program
Tribal Consultation Opportunity at the TLEF
Consultation on Tribal Baseline Water Quality Standards: EPA is
consulting with tribal leaders and tribal officials on a potential rulemak-
ing that would establish baseline water quality standards under the
Clean Water Act for waters on Indian reservations that currently do
not have EPA-approved WQS in place. Water quality standards define
goals for clean water and are used to improve water quality in impaired
waters. Tribal officials are invited to participate on Wednesday,
August 17, from 10:30 am – 12:00 noon Eastern Time in the
Abenaki Room.
Tribes may also call in at 1-866-299-3188 Code: 3189708#.
The Consultation Notification Letter for this event can be found at:
tcots.epa.gov under Baseline Tribal Water Quality Standards.
Moon of the Hot Suns
Page 23
1:30 - 3:00 pm ································ Breakout Sessions ·································· 1:30 - 3:00 pm
Detailed Agenda ~ Wednesday, August 17
USEPA Sustainable Management of Food
Program and the 2030 Food Loss and
Waste Reduction Goal
AND
Mohegan Tribe’s Waste Food Recycling
Program ~ Oneida/Penobscot~
Details: The EPA and USDA recently announced a new
2030 goal to reduce food loss and waste by 50%. As part of
this goal, EPA and UDSA are releasing a Call to Action
webpage designed to summarize the ideas, opportunities,
and issues identified by stakeholders in the area of food
waste. EPA would like to engage with Tribal representa-
tives to understand how EPA’s work in food stewardship
and the 2030 goal can be tailored to meet their needs and
help Tribes secure the social, environmental, and economic
benefits of reducing wasted food.
Presenter: Chris Beling, USEPA Region 1
Details: This session will explain strategies developed by
the Mohegan Tribe to divert a variety of food waste from
the regular waste stream. Scrap food is recovered from the
waste stream and utilized in other ways, including as animal
feed at local farms. Residual oils and greases are also divert-
ed and processed for other uses. The presenter will discuss
the Tribe’s commitment to food recovery strategies, col-
lection methods for a variety of recyclable or reusable
products, and involvement with the Covanta ‘trash to ener-
gy” plant which utilizes waste that cannot be recovered in
other ways.
Presenter: Jean McInnis, Mohegan Tribe
Moderator: Victoria Kotongan, Native Village of Unala-
kleet and TWRAP Steering Committee chair
Office Hours with David Lloyd,
OBLR Director
AND
Where’s The Money? Tips and Tricks for
Successful Grant Proposals
~ Passamaquoddy/Brothertown ~ Details: We will present proposed changes to the CER-
CLA 128(a) funding guidance and request feedback, as well
as have time for an open discussion with the David Lloyd,
the Office Director of the Office of Brownfields and land
Revitalization.
Presenter: David Lloyd, OBLR Director
Details: Brownfield programs are now emphasized as job
creators that revitalize tribal and local economies and drive
regional revitalization. An interactive discussion, which will
encourage suggestions from the audience, will share on-the-
ground examples of how tribal, governmental, and non-
profit organizations have aggressively funded or otherwise
facilitated catalytic redevelopment efforts that return
brownfield sites to productive reuse. Tools in use that will
be featured in the discussion include technical assistance
resources, development finance tools, as well as federal
grant and loan programs. Discussion among the presenters
and with the audience will result in brainstorming on what
other tools are needed to take brownfield redevelopment
to the next level.
Presenter: Victoria Flowers, Oneida Nation and Elizabeth
Limbrick, New Jersey Institute of Technology (TAB)
Moderator: Rachel Lentz, USEPA
Tribal Superfund Working Group Meeting
~ Schaghticoke~
Details: The Tribal Superfund Working Group will be
holding a roundtable discussion, where they will discuss
success, challenges, and emerging issues related to Super-
fund and other contaminated sites of concerns that affect
Tribal lands and people. All are welcome!
Moderators: Todd Barnell and Julie Jurkowski, ITEP
Things to Watch for When Using
Commercial Insurance Policy As Your
Financial Assurance Mechanism
~ Narragansett ~
Details: This session will provide an overview of the finan-
cial responsibility requirements including a brief description
of mechanisms available. We will then go into a detailed
explanation about using commercial insurance as a financial
responsibility mechanism. Included in this session will be:
the types of commercial Underground Storage Tanks (UST)
insurance policies that are available; the unique nuances that
owners and operators should look for in the policy pur-
chased; the pros and cons of certain insurance policies; and,
policy exclusions.
Presenter: Audray Lincoln and Heather Mann, USEPA
Developing a CWA Section106 Monitoring Program
AND
Developing CWA Section 106 Assessment Reports
~ Abenaki ~
Details: This session will focus on developing a Clean Water
Act Section 106 Monitoring Program including: developing a
tribal monitoring strategy as part of the Tribal Assessment
Report (TAR); water quality goals and objectives, monitoring
design, quality assurance, data management and revising moni-
toring strategies. A Tribal case study will also be presented on
the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan (SCIT) water
quality program.
Presenters: Carey Pauquette, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe
of Michigan and David Horak, USEPA Region 5
Details: This session will deal with components of CWA Sec-
tion 106 Assessment Reports and how to use the information
to evaluate tribal water quality condition of the water bodies
or watersheds and identifying causes and sources of pollution.
Presenters: Lionel Puhuyesva, Hopi Tribe and Audrey John-
son, USEPA Region 9
Page 24
1:30 - 3:00 pm ······························· Breakout Sessions ·································· 1:30 - 3:00 pm
Detailed Agenda ~ Wednesday, August 17
Breaking New Ground on Wetland Monitoring and
Assessment: Newly Released
Results of the 2011 National Wetland
Condition Assessment
AND
Mannomin—Research, Restoration and Protection
~ Nehantic/Pequot ~
Details: USEPA recently released the National Wetland
Condition Assessment (NWCA) 2011, a highly collabora-
tive, scientifically rigorous survey based on sampling con-
ducted in 1,179 randomly selected freshwater and tidal wet-
land sites in the conterminous U.S. The NWCA provides us,
for the FIRST time, information on the QUALITY of wet-
lands at the national scale, providing a national baseline for
future wetland assessment work. Among many other in-
sights, this new report informs wetland resource managers
on Tribal Lands about the relationship between ecological
condition and common stressors. In 2011, more than 50
field crews sampled vegetation, soils, algae, water chemistry,
and potential stressors across highly variable wetland condi-
tions using standardized field protocols. A biological condi-
tion rating of poor, fair, or good was assigned to each site
based on a Vegetation Multi-metric Index. The NWCA 2011
found that, nationally, 48% of the wetland area is in good
condition, 20% is in fair condition, and the remaining 32% of
the area is in poor condition. The NWCA 2011 report pro-
vides information about several wide-spread stressors influ-
encing wetland condition and potential improvements in
condition that might be seen nationally by reducing these
stressors. The next NWCA field season is taking place now
(summer, 2016) and as more data are collected over the
course of NWCA surveys, trends will emerge. With new
insight gained over time, the NWCA survey will allow state,
tribal, and local wetland managers and policy makers to
more effectively manage and protect existing wetlands and
to restore some of those that have been lost.
Presenters: Kathleen Kutschenreuter, USEPA
Details: This will be an overview of the last 5 years of the
Mannomin (wild rice) program at Little River Band of Otta-
wa Indians. This includes using recently developed protocols
from the Region 5 Mannomin workgroup, and research con-
ducted using GLRI and Circle of Flight funding. It describes
studies comparing abiotic habitat parameters, bed density
fluctuations, and genetic comparisons between two species.
It will also describe current work protecting and our future
plans for restoring wild rice beds in our area.
Presenters: Allison Smart, Little River Band of Ottawa
Indians
Moderator: Katie Kruse, Keweenaw Bay Indian Communi-
ty and TWRAP Steering Committee member
Enacting and Enforcing Tribal Law to
Restore Natural Resources—
Part 1: A Case Study Using the Park
Service Act as a Model
Part 2: Applying the Tribal Law in a
Workshop Setting
~ Shinnecock/Nipmuk ~
Details: During Part 1, the presentation will focus on the legal
authority for the development of a Tribal resource protection
ordinance and demonstrate how the Park Service Protection
Act has been used and in practice and how it could serve as a
mode for the development of a similar tribal ordinance. During
Part 2, participants will be presented with a factual situation
and be asked, in workshop fashion, to apply a "new" Tribal
Ordinance to identify the claims that the Tribe would have for
natural resource injury and resulting Tribal Service loss under
the new Ordinance and then participants would be asked to
identify the types of restoration activities that would be ac-
ceptable to the Tribe. The SCB and IEc presenters will help
facilitate this part of the presentation and participants will learn
how to apply the facts presented in the hypothetical to the
model tribal ordinance in determining how to describe the
claim. Participants will also learn how to identify the functions
of impacted habitat and surface waters and how to determine
the types of restoration efforts needed to make the Tribe
whole for both resource loss and cultural service loss. This
session continues at 3:30 pm.
Presenters: Richard Du Bey and Jennifer Sanscrainte, Short
Cressman and Burgess PLLC and Robert Unsworth and Jen
Kassaklan, IEc
Page 25
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm ························· Breakout Sessions ···························3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Detailed Agenda ~ Wednesday, August 17
Enacting and Enforcing Tribal Law to
Restore Natural Resources—
Part 3: The Role of Science and
Economics in Supporting Tribal Law
Part 4: The Development of Tribal
Restoration Projects That Will Withstand
the Challenge of Climate Change
~ Shinnecock/Nipmuc ~ Details: This session is a continuation of the presentation by Short Cressman and Burgess PLLC and IEc representatives
during the 1:30 pm breakout session. The first 45 minute presentation will be focused on the role of science and eco-
nomics in supporting Tribal law and advancing the develop-
ment of Tribal environmental law that further Tribal inter-ests, including the role of Tribes in helping EPA to develop
litigation quality administrative records supporting Tribal program delegation. The second 45 minute presentation will
focus on the development of Tribal restoration projects that
will withstand the challenge of climate change, and will be conducted in a workshop format, with participation by at-
tendees facilitated by SCB and IEc representatives. Presenters: Richard Du Bey and Jennifer Sanscrainte, Short
Cressman and Burgess PLLC and Robert Unsworth and Jen Kassaklan, IEc
Infrastructure Task Force Report on
Solid Waste in Indian Country
~ Oneida/Penobscot ~ Details: The Infrastructure Task Force (ITF) was tasked with
the following: Identify and address programs, initiatives, and
other issues that will improve planning construction, operation,
and maintenance of sustainable infrastructure in American Indi-
an and Alaska Native communities. The team leads from the
ITF Solid Waste Workgroup will present the final report de-
tailing issues related to sustainable solid waste management in
Indian Country and Alaskan Native Villages. Additionally, each
team will discuss their final reports in more detail. Team 1:
“Barriers and Potential Resources to Solid Waste Implementa-
tion in Indian Country”, Team 2: creating and testing a
“Community Engagement Strategy”, and Team 3: “Proposed
Approach to Improve Open Dumps Data and Solid Waste
Projects and Programs in Indian Country”.
Presenters: Charles Reddoor, USEPA; Marta Burg Attorney
and Tribal Consultant; Alex Dailey, IHS; Kami Snowden,
TSWAN
Moderator: Katie Kruse, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
and TWRAP Steering Committee member
Grants Mining District—Legacy
Uranium Mining
AND
Navajo Abandoned Mines
~ Schaghticoke ~ Details: Legacy uranium mining in the Grants Mining Dis-
trict of NM. Participants will learn how EPA R6 is working
in addressing the legacy mine cleanup of 98 mine sites, as
well as working with communities, Tribes and State Agen-
cies. Participants will learn of the latest efforts in investigat-
ing the area ground water and efforts to provide safe drink-
ing water to impacted individual wells.
Presenter: LaDonna Turner, USEPA Region 6
Details: Cleaning up over 500 abandoned uranium mines
on the Navajo Nation is a monumental task. Participants
will learn how the federal government and Navajo Nation
are working together to assess contaminated structures,
cleanup the mines, and increase access to safe drinking wa-
ter.
Presenters: Vivian Craig and Darlene Jenkins, Navajo Na-
tion and Linda Reeves, USEPA
Moderator: Arvind Patel, Pueblo of Acoma and TWRAP
Steering Committee vice-chair
NOTES:
Harvest Moon
Page 26
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm ························· Breakout Sessions ··························· 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Detailed Agenda ~ Wednesday, August 17
Prepare a Successful Site Specific Quality
Assessment Project Plan Addenda
(Phase II Work Plan)
~Passamaquoddy/Brothertown~
Details: A Site Specific Quality Assurance Project Plan
(SSQAPP) is essential for conducting a successful field inves-
tigation program by helping you: 1. Identify your problem so
you can ask the right questions; 2. Develop an appropriate
field investigation program; and 3. Ensures your questions
are answered and your project goals are met. This session
will present and discuss the process for developing a suc-
cessful SSQAPP from initial site identification to a complete
final SSQAPP. The results of a Phase II Environmental Site
Assessment are only as good as the investigation work plan
or SSQAPP. Having a thorough understanding of your site’s
historical land use and physical/geological conditions is the
initial and most critical step in preparing your SSQAPP. If
you don’t have a full understanding of your site and poten-
tial contaminants (conceptual site model), how can you de-
velop a successful investigation plan? The conceptual site
model is a critical tool that is used to identify contaminant
sources, receptors and exposure pathways associated with
the site. The conceptual site model also provides the foun-
dation for analytical and technical decisions for the SSQAPP.
Multi-media will be used to demonstrate conceptual mod-
els. Participants will learn how and where to find the infor-
mation required to develop a site conceptual model includ-
ing how to identify: contaminants of concern, fate and
transport of contaminants, contaminant exposure pathways,
data quality objectives, and sampling and analysis techniques.
Participants will also learn the USEPA Brownfields require-
ments for a SSQAPP and will review a SSQAPP table of
contents and report template. Participants will leave with a
working knowledge of how to prepare a Site Specific Quali-
ty Assurance Project Plan.
Presenters: Dale Mitchell, Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleas-
ant Point; Glenn Daukas, Campbell Environmental Group;
AmyJean McKeown, USEPA
Emergency Spill Response Under the OPA—
A Tribal Perspective
AND
Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council’s UST
Site Vulnerability Study and Program Updates
~ Narragansett ~
Details: Emergency Spill Response actions under the Oil
Pollution Act mandate consensus decisions by Unified Com-
mand. Hear a Tribal perspective of how UC worked in re-
sponse to an accidental release to groundwater of ~2800
gals of gas within 30' of the Sanpoil River, a pristine water-
body within the Colville Reservation.
Presenter: Donald Hurst, Colville Confederated Tribes
Details: Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council-Office of
Environmental of Technical Assistance will describe the
process of working with tribal environmental staff and own-
er/operators of Underground Storage Tank systems deter-
mining the impact on environmental receptors if a release
from a UST were to occur within their reservations. This
model will expose the probability of contamination to signif-
icant environmental receptors within a site vulnerability
study area of a 1,000 foot radius and ¼ mile radius. Exam-
ples of receptors are active and inactive source water loca-
tions, which include both ground water and surface water
intakes and municipal supply wells, surface water with a
main focus being perennial water bodies. The audience will
gather knowledge of receptors that will determine both
facility site vulnerability ranking and facility criteria ranking
within a 1,000 foot radius. ENIPC will provide an update on
their compliance assistance and training activities.
Presenters: Leonard Sabatino and Jeffrey Lyon, ENIPC
Moderator: John Wheaton, Nez Perce Tribe and TWRAP
Steering Committee member
Moon of the
Falling Leaves
NOTES:
Page 27
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm ························· Breakout Sessions ··························· 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Detailed Agenda ~ Wednesday, August 17
NOTES:
Overview of Water Data
Sharing Using WQX
AND
Region 6 Water Quality Reporting Pilot
~ Abenaki~
Details: This session will provide an overview of data
management. Discussion will include data collection, Qual-
ity Assurance, flow and storage issues. In addition, new
Water Quality Portal Assessment tool will be highlighted
as a mechanism to support Water Quality Reporting.
Presenters: Laura Shumway, USEPA
Details: This session will describe the recent efforts the
Region 6 tribes and USEPA region 6 staff have taken to
streamline the Water Quality Assessment Reporting pro-
cess as required the 106 grant conditions. The region 6
tribes have begun preparing to submit their water quality
decision to the Assessment and TMDL tracking and imple-
mentation system (ATTAINS) in lieu of the annual written
report.
Presenters: Micco Emarthla, Seneca-Cayuga Nation and
National Tribal Water Council member, and Laura Shum-
way, USEPA
Moderator: Lydia Scheer, ITEP
Protecting Tribal Reservation Waters
Through Proposed Federal Tribal Water
Quality Standards
AND
CWA Treatment In A Similar Manner As A
State—New Developments and Opportunities
~ Nehantic/Pequot ~
Details: EPA will share information as a part of an ongoing
government to government consultation and coordination
with federally recognized Indian tribes on a proposed rule-
making that would establish baseline water quality standards
under the CWA for waters on Indian reservations that cur-
rently do not have EPA approved water quality standards in
place. EPA is proposing to publish an advanced notice of
proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) on this potential rulemaking
by November 2016. This session would be a great oppor-
tunity for EPA to continue consultation and coordination
with Tribal governments prior to the final ANPRM. Many
Tribal governments are highly supportive of this proposed
rulemaking as it would close the gap in water quality stand-
ards for tribal waters to allow tribal waters to have full pro-
tection under the CWA. EPA has worked with Tribal gov-
ernments to develop options for the rulemaking which in-
clude a combination of numeric narrative criteria; a focus
on designated uses to protect cultural and traditional uses;
an emphasis on anti-degradation; and implementation tools.
The ANPRM is intended to complement the TAS Streamlin-
ing by providing a template for Tribal water quality stand-
ards that tribal governments may use.
Presenters: Mary Lou Soscia and Andrew Byrne, USEPA
Details: This session will present information on EPA’s
May 2016 reinterpretation of Clean Water Act (CWA)
Section 518. The focus will be on how the reinterpretation
and other EPA guidance can help streamline the application
process for treatment in a manner similar as a state (TAS)
for CWA regulatory programs, including administering
CWA Section 303(c) water quality standards and CWA
Section 401 certification of Federal licenses and permits for
facilities discharging into navigable waters. Participants in
this session will learn how the TAS process will be affected
by the reinterpretation, the role of TAS in adopting EPA-
approved water quality standards, and new tools for TAS
applications.
Presenter: Mary Lou Soscia, Zoe Ruge and Andrew Byrne,
USEPA
Hunting Moon
Working with Tribes During
Superfund Response
~ Schaghticoke ~
Details: The session will review best practices related to
implementation of Superfund responses in or near Indian
country. Participants will gain an understanding of: - The
policies and practices regarding coordination and consulta-
tion with tribal governments, - Application of the new tribal
treaty rights policy at Superfund sites and - Potential funding
options for tribes working on Superfund responses. At-
tendees will learn practical information to enhance meaning-
ful tribal involvement during Superfund responses.
Presenter: Anne Dailey, Christine Poore, and Jessica
Snyder, USEPA
Page 28
8:30 am - 10:00 am ······················· Breakout Sessions ························· 8:30 am - 10:00 am
Detailed Agenda ~ Thursday, August 18
How to Prepare Now for the Future of Tribal
Solid Waste Program Funding for Cleanups
AND
New Mexico State Government RAID Grants
for Solid Waste Projects
~ Oneida/Penobscot~
Details: The session will walk through all the steps a new
or experienced Tribal Environmental Director will need to
follow in order to meet the new mandatory requirements
from federal agencies to be eligible for funding of open
dump cleanups. The Indian Health Service (IHS) and EPA
will be requiring all tribes to address several elements be-
fore being eligible for funding, such as an Integrated Waste
Management Plan, Codes and Ordinances, as well as docu-
mentation of the site in the IHS WSTARS database. We
will discuss the each requirement in a classroom Q&A set-
ting and provide everyone with an easy to understand brief-
ing of how to get from start to finish and be ready for fund-
ing when it’s needed by the tribe.
Presenter: Roger Hancock, USEPA Region 6
Details: Learn about a very innovative way New Mexico
tribes work with the State government on solid waste initia-
tives. The Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, Inc. pro-
vides technical assistance to 21 NM pueblos and tribes and
Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in El Paso, Texas. As a consortium,
ENIPC has sought RAID Grants over a number of years to
help tribes with solid waste, hazardous waste, and recycling
efforts; these efforts include purchasing equipment, and
providing trainings.
Presenter: Margaret Chavez, ENIPC
Moderator: Arvind Patel, Pueblo of Acoma and TWRAP
Steering Committee vice-chair
Outreach—Mohawk Style
AND
Using Student Interns—Results Today,
Investment for the Future
~ Passamaquoddy/Brothertown~
Details: This session will explore the various outreach
methods used to get the word out in the Mohawk commu-
nity. Participants will need to download the free app,
ResponseWare by Turning Technologies, on to their cell
phones. By participating in this session, attendees will learn
to recognize the importance of having an outreach program
including exploring different approaches to outreach, learn-
ing new ideas, and raising awareness in your community.
Presenter: Julia Jacobs, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe
Details: Hiring paid interns to advance your tribal response
program and other environmental work is a sound invest-
ment when grant dollars are short. Students bring high en-
ergy and creativity that can be just the right boost to reach
a long-deferred milestone. When the students are tribal
members, internships can expand the pool of interested and
experienced future applicants for environmental depart-
ment jobs. It also sends a message to our tribal youth that
good work can be found serving their community. The pre-
senters will describe their experiences and accomplish-
ments using interns. They will discuss the types of work
they have assigned to interns, costs and sources of funding
they have used, challenges of overseeing youth workers,
and how they have recruited the right students for the job.
Presenters: Elizabeth Wakeman, Flandreau Santee Sioux
Tribe; John Prohaska, Bad River Band of Lake Superior
Chippewa
Moderator: Victoria Kotongan, Native Village of
Unalakleet and TWRAP Steering Committee chair
Beaver Moon
Page 29
8:30 am - 10:00 am ······················· Breakout Sessions ························· 8:30 am - 10:00 am
Detailed Agenda ~ Thursday, August 18
Corrosion in Diesel Storage Tanks
AND
Choctaw Nation Success with UST
Regulatory Benefits
~ Narragansett ~
Details: This session will focus on the risks of corrosion
found in underground storage tanks (UST) storing diesel
fuel. EPA completed research in July 2016 that found that
the corrosion is very common across the country, most
owners are not aware it is present, and it appears it could
prevent equipment from functioning properly. Ryan Haerer
of EPA will share details of the study and efforts by EPA and
industry to solve the problem. The second half of the ses-
sion may include a field inspector to present, and will focus
on communicating to owners what the newly identified
risks mean for them, and what they should do to ensure
their equipment continues to operate properly. This will
include discussions of treatment currently available in the
market that may help minimize risk while research on the
cause continues.
Presenters: John LeBlanc, Red Lake Band of Chippewa
Indians and Ryan Haerer, USEPA
Details: Attendees of this UST session will be presented
with a realistic view on how a large number of UST facilities
over a large geographic area of southeastern Oklahoma that
are managed by the Choctaw Nation Travel Plaza Office,
have been pro-actively managed the last 13 years. Compli-
ance assistance from the R6 Tribal UST program helped the
Choctaw Travel Plaza Office attain and maintain the current
high rate of regulatory compliance. Participants will learn
how time, man power, and money have been saved by being
a proactive UST system management entity. Participants will
understand that a conscious effort to shift from merely op-
erating the UST facilities as retail convenience stores to full
service fueling facilities with high UST regulatory compliance
rates took place. Choctaw management and government
made a decision to begin diligent efforts to monitor the
fueling system for regulatory compliance. Also decisions
were made to add training for facility personnel on UST
operations and compliance. Emphasis was made to foster
communications about regulatory compliance through the
environment office of the Tribe to complete regulatory
compliance and system management in partnership with
their Choctaw Travel Plaza Office. Diligence has paid off
with no release taking place from the systems and very high
(90%+) Significant Operational Compliance (SOC) rate with
UST regulations.
Presenters: Chuck Tillman, Sr., Director of Operations
for the Choctaw Nation Travel Plazas
Moderator: Victoria Flowers, Oneida Nation and TWRAP
Steering Committee member
Expediting the Federal Environmental
Review Process in Indian Country
~ Shinnecock/Nipmuc ~
Details: This session will cover efforts to expedite the fed-
eral environmental review process, focusing on the Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) led effort
to improve the review process for housing and housing-
related infrastructure development in Indian country. At-
tendees will receive a status update on that effort, which
includes issuance of a Final Report in December, 2015 and
on-going work to implement the recommendations con-
tained in the report. The session will also provide an over-
view of other federal efforts to improve the federal envi-
ronmental review process, such as the Unified Federal Re-
view of Disaster Recovery Projects. Session participants will
learn about tools that can be helpful when multiple federal
agencies are involved in a single project, such as the use of
the incorporation by reference and adoption of reviews
under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), illus-
trated by case studies. Participants will gain greater familiari-
ty with opportunities to make the federal environmental
review process more efficient. Presenters will seek feed-
back from participants on how the federal review process
can be improved. Participants should be familiar with the
Federal environmental review process.
Presenters: Hilary Atkin, HUD Off of Native American
Programs and Michael Drummond, White House Council
on Environmental Quality
Moderator: Katie Kruse, Keweenaw Bay Indian
Community and TWRAP Steering Committee member
Wolf Moon
Page 30
8:30 am - 10:00 am ······················· Breakout Sessions ························· 8:30 am - 10:00 am
Detailed Agenda ~ Thursday, August 18
NOTES:
Tribal Water Quality Standards:
A Panel Presentation
~ Abenaki ~
Details: This panel includes tribal water quality profession-
als from three different regions of the country: the north-
east, midwest, and southwest. They will discuss some of the
issues they addressed in developing water quality standards
for their tribes, such as accommodating treaty rights to
sustenance fishing, incorporating tribal cultural practices,
and protecting wetlands. The panel also will provide an out-
line of the "treatment as a sovereign" and approval process
for water quality standards.
Presenters: Dan Kusnierz, Penobscot Nation and National
Tribal Water Council member; Daugherty Johnson, Little
Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians; Scott Bulgrin, Pueblo
of Sandia; Gussie Lord, Jill Grant and Associates
PrivateWellClass.org—An Online
Program for Educating Private
Well Owners
AND
Drinking Water Utility
Water Loss Prevention
~ Nehantic/Pequot ~
Details: The Private Well Class is a free national program
to educate well owners and those that serve them about
understanding the responsibilities of being a well owner,
how to properly maintain a private well, and how to pro-
tect their families from risk. The program includes a class
for well owners, webinars for additional learning, podcasts
and videos describing individual topics, and a hands-on
technical assistance program implemented through the
Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP). The TA
portion includes an assessment tool, an 8 page set of ques-
tions to evaluate risk and vulnerability of an individual well.
In this session, attendees will learn how to access the re-
sources available through www.privatewellclass.org, how
to become a partner in this program, and develop an un-
derstanding of the issues related to private wells that are
all too often ignored or taken for granted. They will walk
away with an approach to helping well owners in their
areas learn the importance of private well stewardship and
proper well care.
Presenters: Steve Wilson and Katie Hollenbeck, Univer-
sity of Illinois
Details: Water loss issues are creating significant chal-
lenges for drinking water utilities across the United States.
Reduction of water losses in Public Water Systems can
help reduce infrastructure needs and mitigate problems
stemming from source water shortages. This session will
describe tools and resources that utilities can use to assess
and control water loss. It will provide an overview of wa-
ter loss control and describe use of water audits to identi-
fy and control water losses. Available tools will be cited,
along with an overview of necessary data for conducting a
water audit.
Presenter: Samuel Russell, USEPA
Moderator: Denise Jensen, Winnebago Tribe of
Nebraska and National Tribal Water Council member
Page 31
10:30 am - 12:00 pm ···················· Breakout Sessions ······················ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Detailed Agenda ~ Thursday, August 18
Soil Sampling and Decision Making Using
Incremental Sampling Methodology
~ Schaghticoke ~
Details: This presentation on Incremental Sampling Meth-
odology (ISM) provides information to assist regulators and
practitioners with understanding of the fundamental con-
cepts of soil and contaminant heterogeneity, representative
sampling, sampling error, laboratory error, and how ISM
addresses these concepts. This talk will address basic princi-
ples to improve soil sampling results, systematic planning
steps important to ISM, how to determine ISM Decision
Units (DU), the answers to common questions about ISM
sampling design and data analysis, methods to collect and
analyze ISM soil samples, the impact of laboratory pro-
cessing on soil samples, and how to evaluate ISM data and
make decisions. In addition, insights will be offered on when
and how to apply ISM at a contaminated site. These con-
cepts will aid in developing or reviewing project documents
incorporating ISM, such as work plans, sampling plans, and
reports. This presentation is based on the documents and
training courses produced by the Interstate Technology and
Regulatory Council (ITRC) on ISM. ITRC is a non-profit,
public-private coalition working to reduce barriers to the
use of innovative environmental technologies that reduce
compliance costs and maximize cleanup efficacy. ITRC
achieves its mission through its Teams, composed of envi-
ronmental professionals, including state and federal environ-
mental regulators, federal agency representatives, industry
experts, tribal stakeholders, community stakeholders, and
academia. No prior knowledge or experience is required of
participants.
Presenter: Mary Jo Ondrechen, Northeastern University
Managing and Transforming
Waste Streams
AND
Effectively Strategizing to
Improve Solid Waste Management
in Santo Domingo Pueblo
~ Oneida/Penobscot ~
Details: This training will show how to use EPA’s
“Managing and Transforming Waste Streams – A Tool for
Communities”. This online tool is intended to help munici-
palities and tribes come up with a list of strategies that may
be of interest for inclusion in a zero waste action plan. They
can be tailored to a community’s needs and materials man-
agement priorities. Featuring over 250 implementation ex-
amples from communities, the tool equips users with a
compendium of best practices and implementation models,
including links to actual ordinance, contract, or franchise
agreement language.
Presenter: Shannon Davis, USEPA Region 9
Details: This session will focus on the current efforts of
the Santo Domingo Tribe to improve solid waste manage-
ment within the Pueblo. The presentation will highlight suc-
cess in the areas of improving our transfer station, the crea-
tion of a waste diversion program, including efforts to es-
tablish a "hub and spoke" for neighboring Pueblos, abate-
ment efforts of illegal dumpsites and education and out-
reach to properly inform the community. Attendees can
learn what it took SDT to improve their conditions and
possibly utilize some of our efforts to improve their solid
waste management before the end of 2020.
Presenter: Cynthia Naha, Santo Domingo Pueblo
Moderator: Arvind Patel, Pueblo of Acoma and TWRAP
Steering Committee vice-chair NOTES:
Cold Moon
Page 32
10:30 am - 12:00 pm ···················· Breakout Sessions ······················ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Detailed Agenda ~ Thursday, August 18
OVIScreen: An Innovative Tool to Access
Petroleum Vapor Intrusion
~ Narragansett ~
Details: USEPA developed a screening model for petrole-
um vapor intrusion (PVI) that is based on the BioVapor
code (DeVaull, 2007). As such, it accounts for multiple pe-
troleum constituents in soil gas, and other building and soil
factors that influence PVI. Parameter values describing all
the factors are not typically measured in the field, resulting
in highly uncertain model results. To begin addressing this
problem and to account for these field unknowns, PVIS-
creen includes an automated uncertainty analysis and its
results are given in terms of the probability of various lev-
els of indoor air contamination and indoor air screening
levels. The workshop will consist of an overview of PVI, the
model, and the use of PVIScreen within the context of a
PVI investigation.
Presenters: Jim Weaver, USEPA and Robin Davis, Utah
Department of Environmental Quality
Tribal Response Oversight
AND
Brownfield RFP/TRP Success Stories
~ Passamaquoddy/Brothertown ~
Details: This session will look at Tribal Response actions in
association with in house voluntary clean ups triggered by
high winds and rising groundwater on tribally owned lands.
What happens when a tornado knocks over six large fuel
tanks? How do you respond to catastrophic tank failure?
Where can the Tribe go for help? Where do Response Co-
ordinators and their programs need to set boundaries to
navigate this situation? How do we merge our oversight and
enforcement roles? Being the Brownfields Coordinator and
also doing Tribal Response has many unknown factors that
occur right in front of you and you have to respond. Know-
ing your federal, state, county and tribal partners will enable
you to go through these responses and you always walk
away knowing more than when you came.
Presenters: Molly Feldick, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
and Mark Junker, Sac and Fox Nation
Details: The presenter will show new Brownfield Coordi-
nators the Request for Proposal process—start to finish—
with completed examples and a tribal response scenario.
Two sites were completed and verified as part of the WP
and four component process.
Presenter: Molly Feldick, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
Moderator: Alex James, Yakutat Tlingit Tribe and TWRAP
Steering Committee member
Innovative Strategies and Tools to Increase
Sustainable Behaviors
AND
Solar Projects in Indian Country
~ Shinnecock/Nipmuk ~
Details: Awareness alone does not lead to behavior
change. Information-intensive efforts alone will not increase
sustainable behaviors! Community-based social marketing
(CBSM) is a proven methodology that combines marketing
strategies with community engagement to foster sustainable
behavior. The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
used the CBSM methodology to increase recycling behavior
of students at its tribal college, which resulted in a 41% in-
crease in the recycling rate on campus. Based on this
demonstration project, Fond du Lac collaborated with EPA
Region 5 to develop a Tribal CBSM Training Guide and Re-
cycling Toolkit. The Tribal CBSM Training Guide provides
an overview of how tribes could apply CBSM concepts and
strategies to increase sustainable behaviors. The accompa-
nying Tribal CBSM Recycling Toolkit provides examples of
the CBSM process Fond du Lac performed, which tribes
could follow step-by-step to increase recycling behaviors in
their own communities. The toolkit components can also
be easily adapted to address other kinds of positive behav-
iors. In this session, participants will learn the five steps to
the CBSM process, and how to use the Tribal CBSM Train-
ing Guide and Recycling Toolkit. Participants will also en-
gage in a group activity to brainstorm how to use CBSM
strategies to increase sustainable behaviors they are inter-
ested in promoting. (No other base knowledge/skills re-
quired)
Presenters: Shannon Judd, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Su-
perior Chippewa and Dolly Tong, USEPA Region 5
Details: Solar projects are complicated. Due to sovereign-
ty, tax liability, jurisdictional, and other considerations, solar
projects in Indian Country are particularly challenging. Dur-
ing this session you will hear about the experiences at the
Santa Ynez Chumash and Pala tribes in pursuing, developing,
and implementing solar opportunities. Attendees will learn
about the factors that make solar development on tribal
trust land unique. The presenter will also share strategies
for implementing successful solar projects, such as group
purchasing initiatives. This presentation will cover solar
project examples from residential to commercial scale,
while also touching upon concepts that apply to utility scale
projects.
Presenter: Josh Simmons, Prosper Sustainably
Page 33
10:30 am - 12:00 pm ···················· Breakout Sessions ······················ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Detailed Agenda ~ Thursday, August 18
Understanding Harmful Algal Blooms and their
Potential Impacts
AND
Muscogee (Creek) Nation: Open Source
Applications for Water Quality and
Emergency Response
~ Abenaki ~
Details: This session will introduce my recent publication:
Field and laboratory guide to freshwater cyanobacteria
harmful algal blooms for Native American and Alaska Native
Communities. Harmful algal blooms that are dominated by
certain cyanobacteria are known to produce a variety of
toxins that can negatively affect fish, wildlife and people.
Exposure to these toxins can cause a range of effects from
simple skin rashes to liver and nerve damage and even
death, although rarely in people. The issue may be increas-
ing in importance, as scientists indicate warming global tem-
peratures may exacerbate the growth of harmful algal
blooms. The Native American and Alaska Native communi-
ties that are dependent on subsistence fishing have an in-
creased risk of exposure to these cyanotoxins. In addition,
drinking water facilities may find the field and laboratory
guide may find it particularly helpful.
Presenter: Barry Rosen, USGS
Details: The Muscogee (Creek) Nation has used the US
EPA Exchange Network grant funding to build two open
source projects that greatly benefit water quality data man-
agement and tribal emergency response planning. Partici-
pants will learn more about the applications including the
features of each one and how they are able to access the
code for free. No previous developer skill is needed and the
presentation focuses on the features of the applications
including DEMOs.
Presenters: Frank Harjo, Muscogee (Creek) Nation and
Doug Timms Open Environment Software
10 Years at 10 PPB—
Arsenic in Drinking Water
AND
Protecting Tribal Homes and Infrastructure
from the Ravages of Climate Change at
Passamaquoddy Tribe
(Pleasant Point Reservation)
~ Nehantic/Pequot ~
Details: 2016 marked ten years since the Safe Drinking
Water Act, Arsenic Rule, MCL was reduced from 50 ppb to
10 ppb, and remaining exemptions expired in 2015. Arsenic
in drinking water remains a significant hurdle for public wa-
ter systems nationwide, with small systems seeing significant
difficulties. This session will provide an overview of the Safe
Drinking Water Act Arsenic Rule and its recent history.
The presentation will describe arsenic rule compliance in
Indian Country, challenges with implementation, and list
resources available to Tribes.
Presenter: Samuel Russell, USEPA
Details: The Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point is situ-
ated along the rugged coastline of eastern Maine. Tribal
homes and infrastructure, including a wastewater treatment
facility, are situated near the shoreline, and due to storms
of greater frequency and higher intensity, the shoreline has
been eroding at a rate of approximately one foot per year,
leaving the homes and wastewater treatment facility precar-
iously close to the water's edge and vulnerable to future
impacts of climate change, including flooding and compro-
mised treatment works. In response to an urgent request
for action from the tribal government, EPA formed a collab-
oration of federal partners and along with the Tribe, a path
forward was developed and implemented. This collabora-
tion resulted in multiple funding allocations totaling over
$1,000,000, along with technical resource commitments,
from the USACE, USEPA, IHS, FEMA and HUD. The scope
will include shoreline revetment which will restore lost trib-
al frontage property due to erosion, armoring of the em-
bankment to protect the Tribe from future storms and sea
level rise, and a flood vulnerability study and implementa-
tion of mitigation and resilience measures to safeguard the
Tribe's wastewater treatment facility from rising sea levels
and future storm events. Participants will learn the practical
measures of climate adaptation undertaken by this shoreline
tribal community, and will come to appreciate the value and
power of federal/tribal partner collaboration to plan and
deliver on a common goal, which would otherwise be diffi-
cult to attain without the coalescence of resources and will.
Presenter: Normand LaBerge, Passamaquoddy Tribe at
Pleasant Point; Michael Stover, USEPA Region 1; Marc Paiva,
USACE
Moderator: John Wheaton, Nez Perce Tribe and TWRAP
Steering Committee member
Moon of Snow Wading
Page 34
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm ·························· Breakout Sessions ··························· 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Detailed Agenda ~ Thursday, August 18
Using Brownfields to Assess
Tribal Housing Problems
~ Passamaquoddy/Brothertown ~ Details: Many Tribal reservations and communities have serious housing shortages. At the same time many existing older struc-
tures are abandoned or uninhabitable due to age and/or functional
obsolescence, as well as asbestos, lead-based paint, mold, radon,
disease vectors and other issues. Some sites even become open
dumps or drug labs. Developing sites for new homes is a lengthy,
expensive and tedious process the can also change the look and
feel of the community by spreading out development. Reuse of
sites with existing infrastructure can be an effective solution. Sev-
eral tribes have utilized the Brownfields (128(a) Tribal Response
Program) as a means to inventory, assess and in some cases de-
molish older homes so they could be replaced by modern housing.
This panel session will showcase the knowledge and experience of
tribal Brownfield Coordinators that have been utilizing the 128(a)
Brownfields program to inventory and assess condemned, aban-
doned and/or burned structures (that fit the EPA definition of a
“Brownfield”) and conduct oversight of the renovation of some
structures or demolition of such structures to clear the way for
new housing. Participants will learn how the 128(a) Tribal Re-
sponse Program (Brownfields) program can be utilized to assist
tribes will inventory and assessment of existing sub-standard
homes to facilitate in-fill housing efforts to address tribal housing
shortages. An outcome will be a reduction in unsafe and sub-
standard homes and increased utilization of existing home sites. A
basic knowledge of the TRP-Brownfields program is required.
Presenters: Quinton Jacket, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; Robert
Smith, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe; Jody Ground, Three Affiliated
Tribes
RCRA Public Participation: Make Your Voice
Count in the RCRA
Decision-Making Process
AND
Are You Satisfied with Your
Outreach Efforts?
~ Oneida/Penobscot ~ Details: Underlying the success of public participation programs
at RCRA Sites, are comprehensive strategies and specific process-
es that are required for the unique implementation of each pro-
gram. The EPA recently updated the 1996 Edition of the RCRA
Public Participation Manual. EPA will provide an overview of the
EPA’s Draft RCRA Public Participation Manual and discuss the
importance of public involvement and participation during the
RCRA permitting and corrective action process. This presentation
will also offer helpful approaches, strategies, and tools to working
with rural, and indigenous communities. Participants will have an opportunity to share their experiences and will walk away with
practical, hands-on ideas and gain a working knowledge of the
tools that are available for effective public participation in the
RCRA permitting and corrective action process. This presentation
focuses on what connects people when culture, quality of life con-
cerns, and public involvement practices converge. The objectives
of the presentation are: • To convey the concepts of the RCRA
Public Participation Manual; • To convey the importance of public
participation throughout the RCRA permitting and corrective
action processes; • To share tips and advice on working success-
fully with facilities, the public/communities and regulators. • To
share tactics for successful outreach at RCRA sites.
Presenters: Toshia King and Kristina Torres, USEPA
Details: La Jolla Environmental Protection office has been suc-
cessfully conducting community outreach and education for more
than 10 years. Like most of the tribal environmental offices, we
have been publishing a newsletter and setting up education booths
at different events giving out environmental brochures. Since 2008,
we explored new avenues to conduct better outreach. And, now
we host an Annual Earth Day event (with attendance more than
550 in 2016); setup information booths at Tribal Council Meetings;
host Alternative Spring Break Program, American Indian Summer
Institute in Earth System Science (AISESS) program, and Young
Native Scholars program. How can you increase the attendance at
an outreach event without serving free food? Is it allowed to use
EPA funds to purchase light refreshments? Can you use Facebook
and Youtube to do outreach? What outreach promotional items
are allowed to be purchased with GAP, 106, or 319 funds? Ideas
for outreach activities like painting rain barrels, Environmental
Career Day, Science Fair, 18 month environmental calendar, incor-
porating environmental curriculum into after school programs or
Head Start programs will also be discussed. Expected Outcomes:
Attendees will learn possible ways to increase participation at
their outreach events. They will also learn how to create a Face-
book page and YouTube Account for their environmental pro-
grams.
Presenter: Tej Attilli, La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians
Moderator: Rob Roy, La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians and TWRAP Steering Committee member
LUST Sites:
Protecting Ground Water Supplies
~ Narragansett ~ Details: In addition to public supply wells, private water wells are
an important source of water for many communities in the US,
including tribal lands. These sources are shallow wells that are
often more vulnerable to contamination and may be impacted by a
variety of contaminant sources, including leaks from USTs. Under-
standing the fate and transport of contaminants from these
sources in relation to the position of these water wells is key to
protecting these water supplies. Additionally, with climate change
and associated extreme weather events, the potential changes in
hydraulic flux created by these events may negatively impact water
quality and quantity. A preliminary step in addressing the influence
of contaminant sources on water wells is to understand the geo-
spatial context of both water supply wells and contaminant
sources can assist Tribes in addressing the needed cleanup to pro-
tect water supplies. Presenters: Reuben Moya, USEPA Region 6; Jeffrey Lyon and
Leonard Sabatino, ENIPC; Fran Kremer and Jim Weaver, USEPA
ORD
Page 35
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm ························· Breakout Sessions ··························· 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Detailed Agenda ~ Thursday, August 18
Tribal Led Remediation at the Tar Creek Superfund Site
AND
Lake Superior Barrel Project
~ Schaghticoke~ Details: The Quapaw Tribe has conducted the first ever tribal-led Superfund cleanup at what is known as the "Catholic 40" property with-
in the Tar Creek Superfund site. This site is of cultural and historical significance to the Tribe, as it contains evidence of important events
in the history of the Tribe. After removing source material (mine tailings) from the site, the Tribe sampled the underlying soil and deter-
mined that much of it was also contaminated with heavy metals. Removing these soils (to a one-foot depth) according to the Record of
Decision (ROD) would be costly and would deplete the already scarce quantity of topsoil in this area, ultimately impairing the Quapaw
Tribe's ability to reestablish vegetation enabling eventual productive use of the property. The traditional cleanup approach of removing
contaminated soils risked leaving behind a barren landscape. Along with EPA, and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, the
Tribe took a step back to consider how to tackle this challenge of meeting the site’s cleanup objectives without greatly limiting the future
use of the property by the Tribe. With the help of an optimization team from EPA, an innovative approach was suggested. This approach
included soil amendments that could potentially bind the contaminants of concern in place, making them immobile and greatly reducing
their bioavailability, while allowing what has been termed "transition zone soils" to remain in place. Following the addition of soil amend-
ments and seeding, the Catholic 40 site is currently undergoing monitoring of "technical performance measures" that include both short-
and long-term measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the amendments. This presentation will provide the audience with a general de-
scription of this activity and how it relates to the experiences and challenges moving forward with remedial action at the Catholic 40 site and at the Tar Creek site as a whole. An update of additional remedial action activities the Quapaw Tribe is performing at the Tar Creek
Superfund site will also be provided at the end of the presentation
Presenter: Tim Kent, Quapaw Tribe
Details: The content of this session includes a concise presentation to inform participants about the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chip-
pewa and the Tribe’s efforts to evaluate the potential impacts and risks to human health and the environment from the dumping of approx-
imately 1,400 barrels of waste material into Lake Superior between 1959 and 1962. Since 2003, the Red Cliff Band has worked with the
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD ) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) under the Native American Lands Environmental Mitiga-
tion Program (NALEMP) to investigate and evaluate the Lake Superior Barrel Dump Areas. Participants will learn about the Tribe’s rever-
ence for the sacred waters of Lake Superior and the natural resources of the region on which the Chippewa Tribes depend for subsistence
and to maintain the Tribes’ cultural heritage. Participants will also learn about the treaties that recognize the Tribe’s sovereignty, cultural
traditions, and legal standing to conduct this work aimed at protecting and restoring the natural and cultural resources of the Tribes and
communities of the region. Participants will also learn about underwater investigation methods and sampling and analysis procedures used
to compile environmental information about the barrel dump areas. The expected outcomes include an informed, enlightened, and inspired
group of participants. This outcome is expected based on the accomplishments of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa working
under challenging conditions on a technically complex and demanding project.
Presenter: Gary Defoe Jr., Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Moderator: Victoria Kotongan, Native Village of Unalakleet and TWRAP Steering Committee chair
Rebuilding an AWESOME Environmental Compliance Program on Akimel O’odham Land
AND
USEPA Guidance for Discussing Tribal Treaty Rights
~ Shinnecock/Nipmuk ~
Details: This session will share the steps in navigating through the federal and tribal laws and rebuilding a successful and collaborative
environmental compliance program. This includes sharing of the successes and challenges of compliance program oversight, administration,
data coordination and field work.
Presenter: Amy Miguel, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
Details: In February, after an extensive national tribal consultation effort, the USEPA issued the EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordi-
nation with Indian Tribes: Guidance for Discussing Tribal Treaty Rights (Guidance). The Guidance is designed to enhance EPA’s consulta-
tion efforts in situations where tribal treaty rights relating to natural resources may exist in a specific geographic area that is the focus of a
proposed EPA action. The Guidance follows EPA’s December 2014 memorandum, which commemorated the 30th anniversary of the 1984
EPA Indian Policy and provided a clear policy statement regarding the role of tribal treaty rights in the context of EPA activities. This ses-
sion will present on this historic guidance and answer questions participants may have about this guidance.
Presenters: Dona Harris and Jeff Besougloff, USEPA
Moderator: Alex James, Yakutat Tlingit Tribe and TWRAP Steering Committee member
Idaho Tribal Fish Consumption Survey:
Protecting High Fish Consumers through
the CWA
AND
Benefit of Sea-Run Alewives for Ecosystem
Restoration and Food Fishery
~ Abenaki ~
Details: EPA has been collaborating since 2012 with Idaho
Tribal Governments (Kootenai, Coeur D'Alene, Nez Perce,
Shoshone Bannock and Shoshone Paiute Tribes) on a Tribal
fish consumption survey to build Tribal environmental ca-
pacity; determine current and heritage fish consumption
rates; understand the causes and reasons for suppression of
fish consumption, and Tribal hopes for the future; and col-
lect data to support Idaho Department of Environmental
Quality and EPA CWA actions on Idaho human health cri-
teria. The study confirms that Idaho Tribal members con-
sume more fish than the general population. The survey
successfully collected data for and implemented the Nation-
al Cancer Institute method, the state of the art approach
for fish consumption surveys. The heritage survey reports
document and quantifies heritage fish consumption rates,
providing support for use in developing Tribal water quality
standards. This session will be informative for anyone inter-
ested in understanding about the work in the Pacific North-
west to adopt higher fish consumption rates in ambient
water quality standards. This session will also be informa-
tive for any tribal government representatives that are in-
terested in conducting tribal fish consumption surveys.
Presenters: Mary Lou Soscia, USEPA Region 10
Details: This is the story of "Siqonomeq" (sea-run ale-
wives) the fish that feeds all, and how these keystone fish
benefit the ecosystem, the creatures within the ecosystem
and the people. Restoration of these fish help keep the
water clean and provide needed nutrients to the fresh wa-
ter systems. As a food fishery it can also provide much
needed sustenance benefit as well as economic, cultural and
future food benefits for survival of the people. These fish
can enhance the overall productivity of the environment.
Presenter: Ed Bassett, Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant
Point
Moderator: Riley Smith, Institute for Tribal Environmental
Professionals
Page 36
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm ························· Breakout Sessions ··························· 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Detailed Agenda ~ Thursday, August 18
Non-Point Source Restoration Activities
Following Catastrophic Wildfires on
the Fort Apache Indian Reservation
AND
Integrating the Protection of Healthy
Waters in Tribal CWA Section 319 and
Other Water Programs
~ Nehantic/Pequot ~ Details: The purpose of this session is to highlight the im-
portance of active tribal watershed management and to also re-
port the results of two tribal NPS pollution restoration projects
that were launched due to the catastrophic effects of the 2002
Rodeo-Chediski Wildfire. In 2005, White Mountain Apache Tribal
(WMAT) natural resources managers selected both Swamp
Spring and Turkey Spring for restoration activity due to projec-
tions of high erosion and degradation caused by the Rodeo-
Chediski wildfire (Long, et al., 2005). Funding complications re-
sulted with only Swamp Spring receiving proactive restoration
activity. In 2012, the WMAT was awarded a competitive U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) NPS management grant
to address massive channel erosion, wetland loss and channeliza-
tion that was occurring at Turkey Spring. Collaborative studies
performed by the Tribal Water Resources Department, Dr. Jona-
than Long (USFS-PSW Research Station), USFS Rocky Mountain
Research Station and the Cibecue School’s Ndee Bini’ Bida’ilzaahi
program resulted in monitored restoration activity and geo-
morphic based research at both sites from 2005 through 2015
(Long, unpub, 2015). Temporal lapses in environmental restora-
tion activity at Turkey Spring and Swamp Spring resulted in wild-
fire induced geomorphic studies that could be utilized to highlight and differentiate between proactive versus inattentive environ-
mental restoration activity. The relevance of this presentation is
to emphasize proactive watershed management on Native Ameri-
can lands especially with new obstacles being created by climate
change, historic mismanagement and/or natural disasters. Session
participants will be provided the opportunity to examine WMAT
water resource restoration activities that proved successful on
the FAIR.
Presenters: Cheryl Pailzote and Javis Davis, White Mountain
Apache Tribe
Details: EPA’s Healthy Watersheds Program (HWP) was
launched to place a renewed emphasis on the protection of
healthy waters and to leverage these natural resources to accel-
erate our restoration successes. Through the HWP, EPA is work-
ing with tribal, state, and other partners to take proactive
measures to identify and protect healthy watersheds. This session
will provide an overview of the HWP, the Healthy Watersheds
Consortium Grant Program, and the 2016 Preliminary Healthy
Watersheds Assessment, which will provide statewide and ecore-
gion-wide assessments of HUC12 watershed health and vulnera-
bility across the continental United States. This session will also
provide tribes with examples of approaches for integrating the
protection of healthy waters in their water quality assessment
and nonpoint source management programs.
Presenters: Steve Epting, USEPA
Moderator: Virginia LeClere, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
Closing Plenary: Uncas Ballroom
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
FINAL RAFFLE
FINAL COMMENTS AND BLESSING BY CHIEF LYNN MALERBA
SPECIAL PERFOMANCES BY MOHEGAN TRIBAL DRUMMERS
SPECIAL ‘A TASTE OF NEW ENGLAND SUMMER’ REFRESHMENTS
Thank you all for joining us at this sixth TLEF.
We hope your experience was filled with beneficial
conversations, and useful information, and that you
return home with some new ideas and inspiration.
We wish you all safe and pleasant travels.
Page 37
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm ····························· Closing Plenary ······························ 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Closing Plenary ~ Thursday, August 18
Meet Your On-Site ITEP Staff
All of us at ITEP want to thank you for your attendance and participation in the
Tribal Lands and Environment Forum. We hope you find it useful in your ongoing
work protecting tribal lands, water, and people.
Ann Marie Chischilly, Executive Director
Todd Barnell, Program Manager Roberta Tohannie, Program Coordinator Sr.
John Mead, Program Coordinator Sr. Jennifer Williams, Program Coordinator Sr.
Julie Jurkowski, Program Coordinator Sr. Melinda Yaiva, Accountant
Riley Smith, Research Assistant Lydia Scheer, Air Quality Program Manager
Page 38
Speaker Bios
Adams, Ryan. Ryan is the Water Quality Technician at the
La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians. He has been working with
different Tribal programs for over eight years. He has sound
knowledge about drinking water treatment processes and
water quality monitoring.
Anderson, Dale. Dale Anderson has served as an Environ-
mental Quality Specialist for GRIC DEQ since 2009. He pre-
viously served with the Arizona DEQ, with over 20 years as
manager of the Hazardous Waste Inspections, Emergency
Response, and Pollution Prevention units. He has conducted
hundreds of hazardous waste inspections, emergency re-
sponses and enforcement investigations.
Atkin, Hilary. Ms. Atkin works at the US Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD), where she is a Sen-
ior Environmental Specialist for the Office of Native Ameri-
can Programs. The Office of Native American Programs of-
fers programs aimed at improving housing and fostering eco-
nomic and community development for tribes, and leads the
effort to improve the environmental review process for
housing and housing-related infrastructure development in
Indian country through the Coordinated Environmental Re-
view Process Workgroup. Hilary’s education and career have
been focused on environmental protection and compliance,
and she is well versed in environmental authorities and com-
pliance procedures. Hilary has had the pleasure of serving
HUD as an environmental professional for the past five years.
Attili, Tej. Tej is the Environmental Manager at the La Jolla
Band of Luiseño Indians. He is responsible for managing all
the Environmental Office Programs. He has been working in
the environmental field for 15 years with seven years of expe-
rience in tribal outreach programs.
Banks, John. John Banks is the Director of the Department
of Natural Resources for the Penobscot Indian Nation, a fed-
erally recognized Indian Tribe in Maine. Mr. Banks has served
the Penobscot Nation in this capacity since 1980, following
the enactment of the Maine Indian Land Claims settlement
Act of 1980. As Natural Resources Director, Mr. Banks has
developed and administers a comprehensive Natural Re-
sources management program for his tribe, which advances
an integrated management approach, in recognition of the
inter- connectedness of all things in the natural world. Mr.
Banks has served on many local, regional, and national organi-
zation boards including the National Tribal Environmental
Council, Native American Fish and Wildlife Society, National
Indian Policy Center, and the Tribal Operations Committee
with USEPA. Mr. Banks has a BS degree in Forest Protection
from the University of Maine, where he was awarded an Indi-
an Fellowship from the office of Indian Education in Washing-
ton DC.
Barolo, Mark. ([email protected]) Deputy Director,
US EPA Office of Underground Storage Tanks. Mark Barolo,
is the Deputy Director of EPA’s Office of Underground Stor-
age Tanks (OUST). OUST is responsible for implementing the
national UST/LUST program to prevent and clean up UST
releases. OUST works closely with its state, tribal, and indus-
try partners to develop practical solutions to the ever-
evolving program challenges and opportunities. Mark has
worked in OUST since 1993 in a variety of capacities. He
always appreciates the opportunity to talk with and learn
from other professionals in the industry.
Bassett, Ed. Ed is a Passamaquoddy Tribal Member Pleasant
Point Reservation and has worked 13 years in Environmental
Department. He is a GIS and Multimedia Technician and has
many years in tribal government, Environmental Activist for
Restoration of the Passamaquoddy Homeland in Maine.
Battin, Andy. Mr. Battin is the Director of the E-Enterprise
for the Environment at the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (USEPA) in Washington, DC. He is a member of the
Senior Executive Service (SES) and has over 28 years of infor-
mation technology experience. Previously he was the Direc-
tor of the Office of Information Collection in EPA’s Office of
Environmental Information where his responsibilities included
the National Environmental Information Exchange Network,
EPA's Central Data Exchange (CDX), the eRulemaking initia-
tive (Regulations.Gov), as well as EPA’s Records, FOIA, eDis-
covery and Privacy Programs. Since 1987 he has held a variety
of positions at the EPA in the Office of Water, the Office
Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, and was the EPA’s
National Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Program
Manager. Prior to joining EPA, Mr. Battin worked at the for-
mer Defense Mapping Agency-Hydrographic/Topographic
Center. He has earned a Bachelors degree in Geo-
environmental Studies from Shippensburg University of Penn-
sylvania, and a Chief Information Officer (CIO) certificate
from the National Defense University.
Beling, Christine. Christine joined the United States Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency (EPA New England) in Decem-
ber 1994 and is a Project Engineer. She is currently a member
of the Assistance and Pollution Prevention Unit in the Office
of Environmental Stewardship. Chris’ role in the unit is to
promote EPA’s mission in the area of Sustainable Materials
Management. The unit focuses on non-regulatory initiatives
aimed at extended product responsibility/product steward-
ship, waste prevention, reuse and recycling actions by the
public and private sectors. Christine holds a B.S in Chemical
Engineering from Tufts University.
Benjamin, David. Dr. David Benjamin is President of bet-
ter, Inc., Architect and Charrette Planner and has designed
several sustainable buildings and landscape projects with in-
digenous communities, in both South and North America. He
has moderated charrettes in many contexts in the US, also
with Native American institutions.
Page 39
Speaker Bios Benjamin, Kent A. Mr. Benjamin is the Deputy Director of
the Office of Communications, Partnerships and Analysis
(OCPA) in the Office of Land and Emergency Management
(OLEM) at USEPA. Kent manages a diverse staff of senior
analysts, stakeholder program coordinators and communica-
tions professionals. His office provides advice and support to
Assistant Administrator Mathy Stanislaus in OLEM on matters
ranging from Environmental Justice and Tribal issues to Re-
newable Energy to Social Media strategies. Immediately prior
to his current position, Kent served as acting Director to the
Innovations, Partnership and Communications office. Before
returning to OLEM (formerly OSWER) he was an Associate
Director, in the Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ). Previ-
ously, Kent managed the EPA Office of Environmental Jus-
tice’s efforts in support of community-based projects,
through outreach, communications and financial management.
He worked closely with EPA’s regional offices in support of
their EJ functions and approaches. Earlier, he served as Envi-
ronmental Justice Coordinator and State Liaison for OSWER.
In that role, he co-chaired EPA’s Community Action for a
Renewed Environment (CARE) program where he worked
with a multi-disciplinary, national, inter-agency team.
Throughout his career, he has worked on an extensive range
of issues including Brownfields Redevelopment, Waste Trans-
fer Stations, Asbestos Rulemaking, and Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964. Kent is trained in Alternate Dispute Res-
olution (ADR) and has facilitated community-based meetings,
environmental panels and environmental justice discussions in
communities nationwide and in Brazil and China. He joined
EPA in 1990 as a Regulatory Impacts Analyst. Kent holds a
Master of Science degree in Public Management and Policy,
from Carnegie Mellon University, and a Bachelor of Arts de-
gree in Political Science and Economics, from the University
of Massachusetts, Boston.
Besougloff, Jeff. Jeff is currently a Senior Advisor for Law
and Policy at EPA’s American Indian Environmental Office
(AIEO) in the Office of International and Tribal Affairs
(OITA). Before joining EPA in November 2000, he worked
for eight years as the Director of Environmental Programs for
the Upper Sioux and Lower Sioux Communities in Minneso-
ta. With the tribes, Jeff was responsible for a broad range of
environmental capacity building and program implementation
activities including administering federally delegated lead-
based paint programs, water and wastewater infrastructure
development projects, wetlands programs, and energy effi-
ciency and wind power programs. At EPA he works to insure
that EPA services and resources are available to tribes to
meet tribal and EPA environmental program priorities. He
has worked on numerous national policy initiatives including
providing access to water and wastewater facilities to tribal
homes, strengthening the partnership between EPA and
tribes through consultation, confirming EPA’s commitment to
protecting treaty rights, and on revisions to the delegation of
federal environmental programs to tribes. Jeff also has five
years of experience practicing law in Washington DC.
Bettelyoun, Randy. Randy works as the Coordinator of the
Underground Storage Tank/Leaking Underground Storage
Tank program for the Oglala Sioux Tribe in Pine Ridge, South
Dakota. He has an A.A Degree in Business and General Stud-
ies from Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, South Dakota. Randy
received his tribal certification in Underground Storage Tank
Operations removal and inspections through Intertribal
Council of Arizona Inc. Since 1997 when he began working
for the Oglala Sioux Tribe he oversaw the installation remov-
al and clean-up of UST /LUST sites on the Pine Ridge Indian
Reservation and has acquired not only classroom training but
also practical hands on experience in the UST/LUST field .He
also is a veteran of the Marine Corps 1983 thru 1987.
Bojorquez, Hank. Hank is the Water Program Manager at
the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians. He has been working
with the Tribal programs for 9 years. He has been educating
the tribal youth about environmental quality for three years.
Brow, Heidi. Heidi has worked as the Water Resource Spe-
cialist for the Pala Environmental Department since 2005.
Broz, Kurt. Kurt is a wildlife biologist with a master’s de-
gree from John Carroll University. He has worked for Pala
since 2012.
Bulgrin, Scott. Scott works for the Pueblo of Sandia Envi-
ronment Department as their Water Quality Manager, and
has worked for the Pueblo for the past 15 years. As water
quality manager, he has been involved with various environ-
mental activities which include: surface water quality monitor-
ing, water quality standards, endangered species surveys, bio-
logical and vegetative surveys, National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination Systems (NPDES) permits, compliance and en-
forcement (Mr. Bulgrin has Federal Credentials under the
CWA), storm water issues, Rio Grande Bosque restoration,
wetland restoration, other water quality issues (groundwater,
wastewater and drinking water), and a variety of environmen-
tal activities (USTs, illegal dumping, recycling, and air).
Burchette, John. John is a physical scientist in the Federal
Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office (FFRRO) of the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Land and
Emergency Management (OLEM). John has a BS in Earth Sci-
ence, a BS in Environmental and Geosciences and an MS in
Geoenvironmental Studies. John has 2-years private industry
experience as an environmental consultant conducting and
overseeing various field work activities prior to starting with
the EPA in 2007. Since joining EPA, John has worked as a
Remedial Project Manager overseeing NPL and BRAC Federal
Facilities sites in Region 3 for eight years prior to joining the
Federal Facility Restoration and Reuse Office at EPA HQ in
2015. John currently serves as the EPA Region 5 Federal Fa-
cilities program coordinator and is involved in the develop-
ment of the FEDFacts website as well as being involved in
property transfers and various program measure tracking.
Page 40
Speaker Bios Burg, Marta J. Attorney and Tribal Consultant. Ms. Burg
has been providing legal services exclusively to Tribal Gov-
ernments since 1997. Her practice focuses on environmental
protection and natural resource rights and management, gov-
ernmental operations, inter-governmental relations, real es-
tate transactions and economic development, and Tribal law
and order. Since 1999, she has served as the Tribal Policy
Advisor to the Region 9 Tribal Operations Committee; in
that capacity, she has represented Tribal interests in activities
of the National Infrastructure Task Force through participa-
tion on the Drinking Water/Wastewater Access Workgroup
the Waste Sub-Workgroup. Ms. Burg has taught college
level courses regarding environmental law and environmental
ethics; and has published articles and made presentations to
college-level and graduate classes, and at conferences, work-
shops and continuing education courses, regarding Tribal en-
vironmental issues. She also served as a Member of and Ad-
visor to the Executive Committee of the State Bar of Califor-
nia’s Environmental Law Section from 1999 to 2004. Ms.
Burg obtained a B.A. in Anthropology from UC Santa Barbara
in 1985; a J.D. from Loyola Law School in 1991; and an LL.M.
with Concentration in Environmental Law from the Universi-
ty of San Diego School of Law in 1997.
Byrne, Andrew. Andrew is a program analyst with the EPA
American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO) in the Office of
International and Tribal Affairs. As a member of the Law and
Policy team, Andrew responds to policy and legal issues im-
pacting EPA’s Tribal Program, including matters related to
water quality standards and treatment in a manner similar as
a state (TAS). Before joining AIEO he was a law clerk for the
District of Columbia Department of the Environment.
Campbell, Rich. Rich Campbell, Professional Geologist,
President of Campbell Environmental Group. BS. in Geology,
State University of New York at Stony Brook, MS in Geology,
University of Idaho. Has been providing investigation and re-
mediation services of hazardous and petroleum wastes since
1988. Began assisting tribes in 2007 to complete 128 (a) and
104 (k) Brownfields Programs.
Capuano, Lynn. Lynn Capuano joined E-Enterprise/Exchange Network in July 2015 as the Executive Coordinator. As Coor-
dinator, she is the third party neutral to the partnership of
state, tribal and federal environmental agencies coordinating efforts to streamline and improve environmental management
through business process improvement and effective applica-tion of technology. Prior to joining E-Enterprise/Exchange
Network she was the Data Management Team Leader for EPA Region 2 where she established a region-wide workgroup to
address data access and data integration issues and oversaw
the region's efforts to incorporate "next generation" tools into its permits and settlements among other data-related
work. Lynn completed an M.S. in Environmental Technology at New York Institute of Technology in 2014 and received a B.A.
in History from the University of Chicago and a J.D. from
Fordham University School of Law. She is presently a Com-
mander in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve having begun her Coast Guard career in 2003 on active duty as a Judge Advo-
cate General.
Castillo, Carissa. Carissa is a new member to the USET
team and will provide training and technical assistance to
Tribal utility staff. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Environ-
mental Science from The University of Central Florida. Her
focus is on environmental topics including water, air quality,
and policies/procedures. Being new to the USET team, she
strives to share her enthusiasm and knowledge with the staff.
Her desire to strengthen the relationship between communi-
ties and the environment will help accomplish goals set upon
her by USET and The Tribal Nation. Also, she enjoys spend-
ing her free time outdoors doing activities such as kayaking,
camping, reading, and exploring nature.
Chavez, Margaret. Margaret is from Santo Domingo Pueb-
lo, one of nineteen in New Mexico. She is a graduate of the
University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Business Ad-
ministration. She has been working in the environmental field
for over 20 years starting with the Superfund Program as the
Community Relations Coordinator. Over the years she has
worked in various capacities including Solid Waste, Brown-
fields, Superfund, Pesticides, and Hazardous Waste but her
passion is working with tribal governments and tribal commu-
nities. She enjoys interacting with youth and talking with the
elders. Under the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, Inc.
she helps organize and coordinate the annual Tribal Youth
Environmental Summer Camp for high school students. She
leads many solid waste efforts (trainings, events, projects)
amongst New Mexico pueblos and tribes.
Chischilly, Ann Marie. Ann Marie Chischilly is the Execu-
tive Director at the Institute for Tribal Environmental Profes-
sionals (ITEP). ITEP celebrated 20 years in the fall of 2012 and
has served a majority of the tribes and Alaskan Native Villag-
es nationwide. Ms. Chischilly currently serves on two federal
advisory committees: 1) Advisory Committee for the Sus-
tained National Climate Assessment and 2) the National Safe
Drinking Water Council. She has also served on the Advisory
Committee and Natural Resource Science. Ms. Chischilly
currently serves on the following boards: Center for Indige-
nous Environmental Health Research; ND EPSCoR, and the
National Marine Educators Association. She served on the
Arizona Attorney magazine Editorial Board, Indian Law Sec-
tion Executive Board of the Arizona State Bar, Arizona Ener-
gy Consortium-Tribal Liaison and National Marine Education
Association. She served on the First Stewards Founding
Board, National Tribal Water Council, Native American Con-
nections Board. In December 2015, Ms. Chischilly was invited
by UNESCO to speak at a pre-COP21 event, "Resilience in a
Time of Uncertainty." Before coming to ITEP, she served for
over ten years as Senior Assistant General Counsel to the
Gila River Indian Community (Community), where she assist-
ed the Community in implementing the historic Arizona Wa-
ter Settlement Act. Ms. Chischilly is an enrolled member of
Page 41
Speaker Bios the Navajo Nation (Diné). She earned her Juris Doctorate
(J.D.) degree from St. Mary's University School of Law and a
Masters in Environmental Law (LL.M) from Vermont Law
School. She is licensed in Arizona and has practiced in state,
district, and federal courts. She is also a member of the Inter-
national Bar Association.
Christina, Michele L. Michele spent over 10 years in the
environmental consulting field, working predominantly on pre
-remedial assessments on Federal and State superfund sites.
She then jumped to the public sector side of the fence work-
ing as the City of Trenton’s Brownfields Coordinator and,
later, as the City’s Director of the Division of Economic De-
velopment. Currently, Ms. Christina is co-owner of BRS, Inc.,
a municipal consulting services group headquartered in New
Jersey. BRS helps their governmental, non-profit, and tribal
clientele that struggle with redevelopment funding and staffing
capacity. BRS assists public sector entities create places
where residents want to live, work, and play by preparing
winning grant applications and providing outsourced project
management for public sector redevelopment projects. As co
-owner of BRS, Michele Christina manages redevelopment
projects and municipal brownfield programs. Ms. Christina is
the principal in charge of the firm’s technical services. Ser-
vices performed for clientele on public sector redevelopment
projects include: • Redevelopment strategies; • Identification
of redevelopment funding sources; • Application for and ad-
ministration of funding sources; • Regulatory liaison; • Man-
agement of revolving loan funds; and • Community outreach
and facilitation. Ms. Christina holds her Bachelor of Science in
Biology and Environmental Science, with a concentration in
Chemistry, from Westminster College. She is licensed in
New Jersey in underground storage tank closure and subsur-
face evaluation. She is also a certified Economic Development
Finance Professional.
Clark, Rebecca. Rebecca Clark is the Acting Deputy Direc-
tor of U.S. EPA’s Office of Emergency Management. Her per-
manent position is Deputy Director of Office of Ground Wa-
ter and Drinking Water. Her office administers the Safe
Drinking Water Act, the key federal law for protecting public
water supplies from harmful contaminants for over 300 mil-
lion U.S. residents. Her office administers the Safe Drinking
Water Act, the key federal law for protecting public water
supplies from harmful contaminants for over 300 million U.S.
residents. Becki started her career at EPA in 1985. Before
joining the Office of Water, she held a variety of scientific and
management positions at EPA, including in the Office of Poli-
cy, Planning and Evaluation, in the Office of Research and
Development, in the Office of Environmental Information,
and in EPA’s Superfund program in the Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response. Becki’s education includes a Mas-
ter’s degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan
and a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and Public
Health from Michigan State University.
Cooke, Mary. Mary is a physical scientist in the Federal
Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office (FFRRO) of the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Land and
Emergency Management (OLEM). Mary has been working
with FFRRO since October 2006. In addition to her role as
FFRRO Tribal Liaison her areas of expertise include BRAC,
emerging contaminants and vapor intrusion. Mary is also the
EPA Region 3 Regional Coordinator. Mary joined the federal
government in 1998 as an NPL and BRAC remedial project
manager for EPA Region III in Philadelphia. She holds a Bach-
elor’s degree in Earth Science with minor in Geography and
Marine Science from Pennsylvania State University, and a
Master’s degree in Environmental Pollution Control, also
from Penn State.
Craig, Vivian. Vivian Craig works for the Navajo Nation
Superfund Program as an environmental specialist.
Dailey, CDR Alex, P.E., PMP. CDR Dailey originally hails
from Jacksonville, NC and attended Oregon State University,
earning a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1998. He worked in pri-
vate consulting in the San Francisco area and for the State of
California in the bridge construction division before his first
assignment as a project engineer with the Indian Health Ser-
vice, Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction (DSFC), in
the Manlius NY field office in 2003. In 2006, he transferred
to the IHS Spokane, WA District Office as a project engineer,
and in 2009 he took on the position of District Engineer in
that same office for the Spokane District. Along the way he
achieved licensure as a Registered Professional Engineer from
the State of California in 2002 and certification as a Project
Management Professional in 2010. He is currently working
toward a Masters of Science in Project Management from the
University of Wisconsin-Platteville. In September of 2015,
CDR Dailey transferred to IHS Headquarters in Rockville,
MD to take on the role of Assistant Director of the DSFC
program, where he works on national policy and quality im-
provement efforts for the SFC Program.
Dailey, Anne. Anne Dailey is a senior environmental scien-
tist with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Of-
fice of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation.
Anne serves as an OSRTI Superfund Tribal Coordinator and
works with the Tribal Superfund Working Group. Anne also
works on Superfund climate change issues, groundwater chal-
lenges and is the Superfund Completions Coordinator. Prior
to joining EPA Headquarters five years ago, Anne worked for
more than 20 years in EPA Region 10 (Seattle) in both the
Superfund and Water programs. In Region 10, she was a Su-
perfund Remedial Project Manager for more than a decade
and worked on a broad array of remediation challenges. Anne
Page 42
Speaker Bios
has a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Master’s of Sci-
ence in Oceanography from the University of Washington.
Daukas, Glenn. Glenn Daukas is a Senior Geologist with
Campbell Environmental Group located in Falmouth, Maine.
Mr. Daukas has over 30 years of professional experience in
environmental consulting and engineering for private, State,
federal, and Native American clients. He currently works
with the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Penobscot Indian Na-
tion on their Brownfields 128(a) Tribal Response and 104(k)
Assessment Grant Programs and has supported the Maine
Tribes since 2007. Mr. Daukas has been working on Brown-
fields projects since 2004 for the State of Maine and local
municipalities. Mr. Daukas started his professional career in
Hartford, CT with TRC Environmental Consultants after
graduating from the University of Maine, Orono in 1983.
During his career Mr. Daukas has worked on a variety of
projects with small businesses, Fortune 500 Companies, and
large governmental agencies. He was fortunate to start his
career during the early years of the USEPA Superfund Pro-
gram and worked on several of the first Superfund sites in-
cluding Love Canal in New York.
Davis, Javis. Mr. Davis recently graduated from Fort Lewis
College where he majored in Geology and also studied geo-
graphic information systems. He is currently the Tribal Non-
Point Source Coordinator for the White Mountain Apache
Tribe and in the past has seasonally interned for the White
Mountain Apache Tribal Water Resources Department since
2012. Javis was just recently accepted to John Hopkins Uni-
versity’s graduate environmental science program where he
intends to further his studies in water resources and the envi-
ronmental sciences.
Davis, Robin. Retired, Utah Department of Environmental
Quality. Robin V. Davis is a Licensed Professional Geologist
and recently retired from 25 years as a Project Manager with
the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Leaking Un-
derground Storage Tank program. Robin has over 40 years of
professional experience, and spent the last 30 years in state
government managing petroleum release investigations and
cleanups. She specializes in the behavior, transport, fate, and
natural attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbons, and risk as-
sessments. Her most recent work includes acquisition, com-
pilation and analysis of petroleum vapor data for the purpose
of establishing screening criteria for the petroleum vapor
intrusion exposure pathway. This body of work has resulted
in national guidance documents published by EPA OUST and
ITRC, and has been adopted by other countries including
Brazil. Robin earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology from
Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, California in 1977.
Davis, Shannon. Shannon is a scientist at the Environmental
Protection Agency in San Francisco where she is a member of
Region 9’s Tribal Solid Waste team. She also co-leads a pro-
ject, West Coast Climate and Materials Management Forum,
which helps cities, states and tribes to integrate sustainable
materials management policies and practices into climate pro-
tection and sustainability plans.
Defoe Jr., Gary. Gary is a member of the Red Cliff Band of
Lake Superior Chippewa. He has a wife, daughter and cur-
rently resides on the Red Cliff Reservation. Gary has been
involved with the Barrels Project since 2012 when the Band
retrieved 25 barrels of munitions and ash and slag and has
since been hired as the Project Manager for this project.
Delehanty, Robyn. Robyn is the State and Tribal Section
106 Grant Program Coordinator and is responsible for man-
aging the national allocation, developing guidance, cross-
program communication and supporting national and regional
initiatives. Robyn has been with the program for 8 years and
with EPA for 18 years. Robyn worked for 10 years in the
Underground Injection Control Program. Prior to that she
worked for the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority
and as an environmental consultant.
Diefendorf, Sarah. Sarah is the Executive Director of the
Environmental Finance Center West, a program housed at
Earth Island Institute in Berkeley, California. She has founded
and managed numerous nonprofit organizations throughout
her career and has specialized in building business, financial,
communications and leadership capacity in the US and
abroad. For the past three years Sarah has worked as a na-
tional trainer for USEPA and has delivered Leadership
Through Communications workshops for small water sys-
tems for small and rural communities and Tribes throughout
the United States. Sarah also has over ten years of experience
working with multiple Tribes in California, Nevada, Arizona
and New Mexico to support efforts to develop greener econ-
omies and self-sufficiency through recycling programs, trans-
fer stations, compost operations, ecotourism and alternative
energy. Sarah is an Expert Witness for the USEPA National
Environmental Finance Advisory Board, serves on the Board
of the California League of Women Voters, is the immediate
past chair of the Carbon Cycle Institute and holds a BA in
International Relations from San Francisco State University
and an MS in Environmental Geography from Cambridge Uni-
versity.
Dolislager, Fredrick G., B.S. Fred Dolislager has a B.S. in
Natural Science from Bryan College, where he graduated in
1989. He has supported the environmental restoration activi-
ties on the Oak Ridge Reservation since 1988. Fred’s career
began in an environmental laboratory, transitioned into site-
specific risk assessment and developed into managing the
calculation of environmental screening levels for Superfund.
These environmental screening levels are the national stand-
ard for chemicals and radionuclides in air, water, soil and bio-
ta. His exposure assessment models have also been adapted
to support the assessment of residual chemical warfare
agents on surfaces, the radiation risk from sources inside and
outside buildings and the intrusion of vapors from contami-
Page 43
Speaker Bios nated soil and groundwater into buildings. Most of the
screening levels are also provided on the internet in an inter-
active system that allows users to change input parameters
and calculate site-specific screening levels or cleanup levels.
Dollhopf, Ralph. Mr. Dollhopf is EPA's pre-designated fed-
eral Oil-Scene Coordinator for Michigan's Northern Lower
and Upper Peninsulas, From July 2010 thru August 2013 he
served as the EPA Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC)
and Incident Commander of the Unified Command for the
response to the July 2010 Enbridge Line 6K Discharge into
the Kalamazoo River. Previously, he helped lead EPA's re-
sponses to nationally significant events such as the World
Trade Center Attack (2001), Washington D.C. Anthrax At-
tack (2001), Columbia Shuttle Disaster (2003), and Hurricane
Katrina (2005).
Drummond, Michael. Michael works at the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) where he serves as Deputy
Associate Director for the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA). CEQ oversees Federal agency implementation of the
environmental impact assessment process. NEPA assigns
CEQ the task of ensuring that Federal agencies meet their
obligations under the Act. The challenge of harmonizing our
economic, environmental and social aspirations has put NEPA
and CEQ at the forefront of our nation's efforts to protect
the environment. Michael has significant experience assisting
Federal agencies as they improve the environmental review
process through efforts such as the Unified Federal Review
for Disaster Recovery Projects and the Federal Infrastructure
Permitting Improvement effort.
Du Bey, Richard. Richard Du Bey, Short Cressman & Bur-
gess PLLC, focuses his practice on environmental, natural
resources, and tribal government law, with an emphasis on
environmental regulation, litigation, Native American law,
administrative law, and inter-governmental negotiations. He
counsels private and public sector clients in regulatory pro-
gram development, compliance and enforcement, environ-
mental risk management, hazardous substance cleanup, natu-
ral resource damages, and tribal economic development.
Richard serves as Chair of the SCB Tribal Government Prac-
tice Group.
Dyment, Steve. ([email protected]) U.S. EPA
Technology Innovation and Field Services Division, Office of
Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation. Steve
Dyment is a chemist with more than 15 years experience
including 4 years in a commercial analytical laboratory and 8
years in environmental consulting. He joined EPA in 2005
with a focus towards enhancing acceptance and use of emerg-
ing analytical technologies and sampling strategies. His per-
spective draws upon years of practical laboratory and field
experience to apply EPA's Triad approach at sites in Super-
fund, Brownfields, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA), underground storage tanks, and state programs.
Steve’s efforts have resulted in the development of numerous
EPA case studies, profiles, and training courses that outline
successful strategies for the use and understanding of collabo-
rative data sets, adaptive quality control programs, and real
time analytics. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Science/
Toxicology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Eberhard, Eric D. Prof. Eric D. Eberhard is an Affiliate As-
sistant Professor at the University of Washington School of
Law. He has been actively engaged in the practice of federal
Indian law since 1973, including employment in legal services
on the Navajo, Hopi and White Mountain Apache reserva-
tions; as the Deputy Attorney General of the Navajo Nation
and Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Washington
Office, and Staff Director and General Counsel to the Senate
Committee on Indian Affairs. From 2009 to 2016 he was a
Distinguished Indian Law Practitioner at the Seattle University
School of Law. From 1995 to 2009 Professor Eberhard was a
Partner in the Indian Law Practice Group in the Seattle office
of Dorsey & Whitney LLP. His practice involved the repre-
sentation of Indian tribes, tribal organizations and entities
doing business with Indian tribes in federal, state and tribal
judicial, legislative and administrative forums. Prof. Eberhard’s
work included the areas of: fee-to-trust transfers, water
rights, leasing of land and natural resources, federal contract-
ing, gaming, federal recognition, the formation of Tribal cor-
porations, environmental law, administrative law, jurisdiction,
the development of tribal law, self-governance, cultural re-
source protection and the federal trust responsibility. Prof.
Eberhard holds a B.A. from Western Reserve University. A
J.D. from the University of Cincinnati and an LL.M from
George Washington University.
Emarthla, Micco. Micco is the environmental specialist for
Seneca-Cayuga Nation in Oklahoma. He is also the Region 6
liaison for the National Tribal Water Council.
Epley, Brian. Brian Epley, Short Cressman & Burgess PLLC,
concentrates is Brian Epley, Short Cressman & Burgess PLLC,
concentrates his practice on environmental and natural re-
source matters, including regulation and litigation arising un-
der the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensa-
tory and Liability Act (CERCLA), Washington's Model Toxics
Control Act (MTCA), and the Clean Water Act (CWA).
Brian represents Indian Tribes, local governments and private
clients in environmental land use and real estate matters.
Epting, Steve. Mr. Epting is the national coordinator for the
tribal Clean Water Act (CWA) section 319 program, as well
as a team member in the Healthy Watersheds Program at US
EPA Headquarters. Prior to his current position, Steve spent
three years in EPA's National Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pro-
gram, where he worked primarily with States and EPA re-
gional offices to track and publish stories on the successful
restorations of NPS-impaired waterbodies. Steve has a M.S.
from University of Maryland, where he conducted research
Speaker Bios
to model forested wetland-stream surface hydrologic connec-
tivity patterns using field-based and geospatial datasets.
Feldick, Molly A. Molly Feldick is the Brownfields/TRP Co-
ordinator for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska for the past
six years. She has used BIT for the Tribe's site inventory and
reporting to ACRES. She has had over 46 Tribal Response
issues during her six year with the tribe. Of these 46 all have
been taken care of except two. One is a TBA and one is in
the first stages of becoming an asbestos abatement.
Flowers, Victoria. Victoria has worked for the Oneida Na-
tion since August of 2004, as an Environmental Specialist in
the Brownfield Program developing a Tribal Environmental
Response Program using Brownfield 128(a) grant funding, an
Underground Storage Tank Compliance Assistance Program,
and an environmental database that tracks various activities
associated with tribal and federal funding. She has also provid-
ed input into a national measures workgroup for Brownfields,
assisted in the development of peer to peer training materials
for both Brownfields and underground storage tanks, and is a
National Steering Committee member for the Tribal Waste
and Response Assistance Program.
Gaughen, Shasta. Dr. Shasta Gaughen is the Environmental
Director and the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the
Pala Band of Mission Indians in Pala, California. She has
worked for the Pala Band since January 2005.
Gee, Randy. Randy Gee is the Director of the tribal pro-
gram for EPA Region 6. He has served in this role for many
years and has taken active role in the Agency's implementa-
tion of its tribal/indigenous peoples EJ policy.
Gogal, Danny. Daniel Gogal has worked on EJ issues per-
taining to tribes and other indigenous peoples for more than
24 years while serving in the USEPA Office of Environmental
Justice. He co-led the development of the EPA tribal/
indigenous peoples EJ policy. He is also the EPA lead for in-
ternational human rights issues and serves on the Native
American/Indigenous Peoples Committee of the Federal In-
teragency Working Group on Environmental Justice.
Gough, Robert. Robert Gough is the Executive Director of
the Intertribal Council on Utility Policy and has worked ex-
tensively with the Dept. of Energy on Tribal Energy planning
and renewables. He is involved with supplying information
relevant to tribal contexts to the US national climate assess-
ment reports, and has extensive experience in implementing
renewable energy projects on tribal reservations.
Grant, Jill E. Jill is the founding member of Jill Grant & As-
sociates, LLC in Washington, D.C. Her work focuses on the
development, implementation, and enforcement of tribal envi-
ronmental laws and programs and associated administrative
and appellate litigation. She has assisted tribes with obtaining
“treatment as a state” and primacy for many tribal environ-
mental programs, including the first delegated Clean Air Act
Title V permit program and the first public water systems
supervision program. She also works with tribes to obtain
proper remediation at various leaking storage tank sites and
Superfund sites. Ms. Grant previously worked in the Office of
General Counsel at EPA, where she was on the team that
drafted the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and assisted
in developing the acid rain program. Ms. Grant earned her JD
from Harvard Law School and her BA from Yale College.
Grijalva, James. Professor Grijalva was law clerk at the
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and a
practitioner of law in Seattle,. In addition to serving as Profes-
sor at the Univ. of North Dakota School of Law, he serves on
the summer faculty at Vermont Law School. Professor Grijal-
va writes and lectures on environmental law and federal Indi-
an law, especially in the area of protection of the Indian coun-
try environment. He directs the Northern Plains Indian Law
Center’s Tribal Environmental Law Project and teaches
American Indian law, property law, environmental law, and
administrative law. He has been a technical services contrac-
tor and environmental law trainer for the EPA and is the au-
thor of numerous publications relating to the administration
of tribal environmental programs, including: “Tribal Sover-
eignty and Environmental Justice for Native America” (2011);
“EPA's Indian Policy at Twenty-Five” (2010); and “The Origins
of EPA's Indian Program” (2006).
Ground, Jody. Jody Ground, Environmental Manager for the
Three Affiliated Tribes Housing Authority, Fort Berthold Res-
ervation, ND. She has worked with Tribes, Federal, State
agencies, and the Private Sector in several different Adminis-
trative rolls, providing compliance, monitoring, permitting and
testing. Currently the Environmental Manager for the Three
Affiliated Tribes Fort Berthold Housing Authority and was
previously the Tribal TRP-Brownfields Coordinator. We have
developed a Methamphetamine Remediation Program and
through this program we have successfully remediated over
15 homes to a safe level for residents of our tribe. We have
also completed indoor air testing for a large USDA project
and remediated the mold problems that the USDA was con-
cerned about. Fort Berthold has remediated burned homes
with Asbestos and Lead paint problems with the help of the
EPA in the past. We are moving forward to provide safe living
conditions for the tribe and people.
Harris, Dona M. Dona currently works for the US Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency as a Senior Program Analyst.
She has worked for EPA for 34 years in various EPA offices
and positions. In her current position she works in the
American Indian Environmental Office on EPA’s tribal consul-
tation policy implementation issues and environmental justice.
Dona was the co-lead in the development EPA’s new Guid-
ance on Discussing Tribal Treaty Rights.
Haerer, Ryan. ([email protected]) US EPA Office of
Underground Storage Tanks. Ryan joined
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US EPA’s Office of Underground Storage Tanks as the con-
tact for emerging fuels compatibility with UST systems in
2013. Prior to joining EPA he studied environmental policy
and international relations. Ryan was a combat medic in the
Army when he was still moderately fast and could do
pushups, and was a small business owner prior to that. Now
he is much slower and can’t do many pushups, but his golf
game is much better. Ryan is originally from Dayton, Ohio,
and now lives with his wonderful wife in Washington, D.C.
Hancock, Roger. Roger graduated cum laude from the Uni-
versity of Texas at Arlington in January, 1993 with a degree in
Geology and Business. After graduating, he went straight to
work for EPA Region 6 in Dallas and has been there for 23+
years in several different programs. He started his career in
RCRA and Superfund and then moved to the Water Divi-
sion. Over the course of nine years there he served as a
Nonpoint Source Project Manager, the Marine Debris Coor-
dinator and a Wetlands Enforcement Officer. Next, he moved
to the Brownfields Program and was the Revolving Loan Fund
Coordinator. Lastly, he has enjoyed spending the last twelve
years as the Tribal Solid Waste Coordinator in the Multime-
dia Program where he provides technical assistance and out-
reach to the 66 federally recognized tribes in Region 6.
Hanson, Susan T. Susan is an environmental scientist and
has served the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in her current posi-
tion since 2004. Her responsibilities include work on National
Priority List Superfund Sites, Resource Conservation and Re-
covery Act sites, and mining reclamation sites. Ms. Hanson
has more than 23 years experience as an environmental pro-
fessional. Since 1994, she has served in various scientific ca-
pacities, including work for Tribal, State, federal governments
and as a Consultant. She holds a BS in biology and a Master of
Science in hazardous waste management, interdisciplinary
biology and engineering from Idaho State University and has
completed postgraduate studies in toxicology and risk assess-
ment.
Harjo, Frank. Frank is the GIS Manager for the Muscogee
(Creek) Nation and has over 14 years of GIS/GPS experience.
Frank has been over the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Geospa-
tial Department since 2009 and currently participates on re-
gional/national work groups as a tribal representative. He
holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of
Tulsa and a Master of Science degree from Northeastern
State University.
Harris, Dona. Dona Harris is the environmental justice lead
for the USEPA American Indian Environmental Office, where
she has worked for the past five years. She co-led the devel-
opment of the Agency's tribal/indigenous peoples EJ policy.
Hartnett, Mickey. Mickey Hartnett of Envirofields is an
independent contractor assisting tribal environmental pro-
grams. He also works with the Kansas State University Tech-
nical Assistance to Brownfields (KSU-TAB) to provide tech-
nical assistance to tribes and rural communities on brownfield
issues and grants. He previously served as a tribal circuit rider
for the US EPA Region 8 from 2004 to 2014 provide technical
assistance and training to tribes for Tribal Response Programs
- Brownfields, solid waste and emergency response and has
developed national tribal training, to include Alaska Native
Villages, for the Tribal Response Program. He is a graduate of
the University of Florida with a B.S.E. in Environmental Engi-
neering. Prior experience includes 25 years with the US EPA
in the hazardous wastes, Superfund and Brownfields programs
to include enforcement and compliance actions, hazardous
waste facility permitting and major remediation projects of
large contaminated facilities. He has diverse and extensive
experience in assessment, remediation and redevelopment/
reuse of contaminated sites and properties, including Brown-
fields and Superfund Sites. He is experienced in working with
federal, state and local governments, tribal nations, and urban
and rural communities.
Harvey, David. David is the Deputy Director of the Divi-
sion of Sanitation Facilities Construction with the Indian
Health Service (IHS) he is responsible for the development
and overseeing of program guidance to support the construc-
tion of sanitation facilities in Indian country. He has worked
with the interagency Infrastructure Task Force since 2007 to
coordinate efforts to maximize the potential for sustainable
tribal operation and maintenance over the long term for fed-
erally supported sanitation infrastructure. He is a registered
Professional Engineer in the State of Maine. He holds a Bache-
lor of Science from the University of Maine, a Master of Sci-
ence from the University of Connecticut both in Civil Engi-
neering and a Master of Public Health degree from Johns
Hopkins University School of Public Health.
Haven, Henry. Henry Haven received a BS in Geology from
Fort Lewis College in 1976 and an MS in Geology from
Northern Arizona University in 1997. He is currently em-
ployed as a geologist with the Navajo Nation EPA Leaking
Storage Tank program, where he is involved in the assess-
ment and remediation of subsurface groundwater contamina-
tion from leaking petroleum storage tanks. Previously, Henry
worked as a well-site and exploration geologist in the oil
fields with major oil-producing companies during the oil
boom in the late 1970s in the Four Corners Region. He has
completed several scientific publications with the U.S. Geo-
logical Survey on the coal resources of Black Mesa.
Hawkins, Tonya. Tonya is the Co-Team Leader for the
EPA's Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery Tribal
Waste Programs Team. Tonya has worked with the Tribal
Waste Programs Team since 1997, she currently provides
national program direction and partners with the EPA regions
and other federal agencies to assist tribes with the manage-
ment of waste on tribal lands. The EPA’s main tribal solid
waste priority, intended to address the most pressing waste-
Page 45
Speaker Bios
Speaker Bios
related environmental issues on tribal lands, is the promotion
of sustainable tribal waste management programs through the
development and implementation of Integrated Waste Man-
agement Plans (IWMPs). Through the EPA’s Tribal Waste
Management Program, our goal is to assist tribes in develop-
ing and implementing sustainable safe waste management
practices in Indian country that are protective of human
health and the environment.
Henderson, Shawn. Shawn is the USEPA Region 7 WQX
data submission expert.
Hingst, Page. Page is the TRP-Brownfields Coordinator for
Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and is using BIT to store data for a
variety of sites in seven service areas.
Hollenbeck, Katie. Katie is a Water Resources Outreach
Specialist for the Illinois Water Resources Center at the Uni-
versity of Illinois. As part of the Private Well Class team, she
assists with content and multimedia development, outreach,
and social media marketing. In addition to her work with the
Private Well Class, she aids in activities associated with the
Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. Her past work has
been primarily focused on surface water and she has previ-
ously worked on nutrient issues on lakes and streams for the
Wayne National Forest, Ohio State University’s F.T. Stone
Laboratory, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
Katie received her B.A. in Environmental Biology from Ohio
University and her M.S. in Environmental Science from the
University of Illinois at Springfield.
Horak, David. David is a Tribal Program Manager with the
US EPA Region 5. David has over 10 years of experience in
the R5 Tribal Program and over 20 years’ experience in US
EPA Water programs. Before coming to R5 David was in the
R7 Drinking Water program as a State Program Manager.
Prior to that he worked for the USDA NRCS in Nebraska.
Hoskinson, Carolyn. Carolyn Hoskinson has served as Di-
rector of EPA’s Office of Underground Storage Tanks
(OUST) since February 2009, and before that was the Deputy
Office Director, beginning in August 2006. Carolyn started
her career at EPA when she was fresh out of college 1991,
and has served in several programs at EPA. She has a Bache-
lor of Arts Degree in Communications, Law, Economics and
Government from The American University in Washington,
DC. Carolyn grew up in the suburbs of New Haven, Con-
necticut and still returns home to visit family, and to enjoy
her favorite New Haven-style pizza and birch beer. Carolyn
is married to her high school sweetheart, Jim, and lives with
him, and their two teenage sons, Jack and Ryan, in Silver
Spring, Maryland.
Huq, Syed. Syed Huq has an M.S. in Geology from South
Dakota School of Mines & Tech. He is a registered Environ-
mental Manager, Certified Landfill Inspector, with over 25
years of experience working on groundwater issues and
taught courses on watershed management and emissions in-
ventory. He has several publications and paper presentations
on groundwater-Ogallala Aquifer at national, state and tribal
conferences-seminars and workshop, and has received Out-
standing Achievement Awards from Tribe, Universities, State
and National Organizations.
Hurst, Donald. Don is the Cleanup Program Manager for
the Environmental Trust Department of Colville Confederat-
ed Tribes. He was an environmental consultant from 1984-
2004 and the Colville Confederated Tribes Program Manager
from 2004-present. Mr. Hurst works and resides on Colville
Reservation in north central Washington state. He has a BS
and an MS in Geology from the University of Wyoming.
Jacket, Quinton. Quinton Jacket, Tribal Response Program-
Brownfields Coordinator, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, CO
Worked in the tribal, Industrial equipment construction, agri-
business and mining industry for over 26 years and has exten-
sive experience in OSHA, MSHA regulations, Instructor
Training, and AHERA/NESHAP Asbestos certifications. as
Brownfields Coordinator for the Ute Mountain Tribe brings
training expertise as an Asbestos Inspector, Contractor/
Supervisor, and knowledge in Solid Waste Management, Envi-
ronmental Enforcement Ethics, ArcGIS 10 and EPA/Safety,
SHEMD, SPCC Inspector (oil & gas) and is proficient in Envi-
ronmental Site Assessments for Commercial Real Estate and
currently an instructor for the Asbestos Institute.
Jacobs, Julia. Julia has worked with the Saint Regis Mohawk
Tribe's Environment Division as an Outreach Specialist for 7
years and also is the current Brownfields Redevelopment
Specialist. She is a retired Teacher/Principal of Akwesasne
Mohawk Board of Education after 25 years.
Johnson, Audrey L. EPA Region 9. Audrey began working
in the Region 9 Water Division, Tribal Water Section in 2005.
She works with tribes in Arizona, California and Nevada on
their CWA 106, CWA 319, Wetlands Development Grants
and manages tribal drinking water and wastewater infrastruc-
ture projects in the US-Mexico Border Region. In addition,
she is the Tribal NPS Coordinator and the lead contact for
tribal data management and assessment in Region 9.
Johnson, Daugherty. Daugherty currently serves as the
Environmental Services Manager for the Little Traverse Bay
Bands of Odawa Indians, and is a Citizen of the Tribe. Mr.
Johnson graduated from Michigan State University with a B.S.
in Agriculture and Natural Resources. He worked in the
wastewater and water world for 25 years and served on the
Little Traverse Bay Bands Natural Resources Commission for
13 years. The Commission’s responsibilities included develop-
ing regulatory and policy positions related to hunting and fish-
ing rights as well as environmental oversight.
Jones, Luke. Luke is a Senior Advisor to EPA's tribal pro-
gram and leads the "Tribal Capacity Devel-
Page 46
opment Team" for EPA's American Indian Environmental Of-
fice (AIEO). His work includes administering the Indian Envi-
ronmental General Assistance Program (GAP) - the single
largest source of EPA funding for tribal environmental pro-
grams. Prior to his current position, Luke served as Director
for the EPA Region 5 Indian Environmental Office (Chicago,
IL). Before joining EPA in 1999, Luke worked for the U.S.
Department of Defense Native American Lands Environmen-
tal Mitigation Program (Washington, DC; 1997-1999), the
National Tribal Environmental Council (Albuquerque, NM;
1996-1997), and the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of
Environmental Management tribal programs (1991-1995).
Luke received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from
Rutgers University (1991) and a Masters of Public Administra-
tion from Indian University's School of Public and Environ-
mental Affairs (1996).
Judd, Shannon. Shannon has served as the Environmental
Education Outreach Coordinator (EEOC) for the Fond du
Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa for the past nine years.
As EEOC, she conducts community outreach activities on
natural resources, climate change, recycling, waste reduction,
proper solid waste management, renewable energy and other
environmental issues.
Junker, Mark. Mark Junker has been working for the Sac
and Fox Nation for two years as the 128(a) coordinator.
Jurkowski, Julie. Julie joined ITEP in 2014 and works as a
Program Coordinator Senior on both the Tribal Waste and
Response Assistance Program (TWRAP) and Tribal Solid
Waste Education and Assistance Program (TSWEAP). Her
previous jobs have included working on a jaguar study along
the Mexican-US border, green building consulting, coordinat-
ing conferences on sustainability, energy policy and renewable
energy credits research, and as a backpacking guide.
Kent, Tim. Tim Kent has been the Environmental Director
for the Quapaw Tribe since 2004. He is a registered geologist
in Kansas and Missouri. Previous to his position at the Tribe,
he was a consulting engineering geologist for engineering con-
sulting firms in Kansas and Missouri. He has been managing
geological and environmental projects since 1982.
King, Toshia. Toshia has over two decades of experience
in RCRA public participation and environmental justice as an
environmental specialist, trainer, and advocate. She currently
serves as the Environmental Justice Coordinator for the
RCRA program. As an Environmental Justice Coordinator,
Toshia primarily focuses on community concerns at RCRA
sites, particularly those living in environmentally overbur-
dened areas. In this role she works with the RCRA program,
Regions, and external stakeholders to help elevate EJ issues,
as well as integrate and strengthen EPA’s EJ initiatives within
the RCRA Program.
Kremer, Fran. ([email protected]) Senior Science Advi-
sor, US EPA Office of Research and Development. Dr. Fran
Kremer is presently jointly serving as the Senior Science Advi-
sor in the National Risk Management Research Laboratory,
Office of Research and Development (ORD) addressing wa-
ter resources. In ORD, she is working to incorporate a GIS-
based approach with modeling to better identify sources of
contamination and the potential for existing and future water
resource impacts. Additionally, she is focusing on Next Gen-
eration advanced water monitoring. She has previously served
in various roles in ORD including the Associate Director of
the Sustainable and Healthy Communities Research Program
and Assistant Laboratory Director, developing research to
address contaminated sites and impacted water and land re-
sources. She has formed and led internal and external re-
search groups and developed public/private partnerships, na-
tionally and internationally, to advance research in implement-
ing technologies and solutions, in support of the Agency’s
Program Offices and Regions and State agencies. Fran re-
ceived her BS in Chemistry from Indiana University and her
PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Cin-
cinnati.
Kusnierz, Dan. Dan is the manager of the Penobscot Indian
Nation’s Water Resources Program since January 1993. In
this capacity Dan oversees many water resource related pro-
jects conducted by the tribe including a Penobscot watershed
-wide water quality monitoring program with the tribes’ own
analytical lab; monitoring tribal lakes and ponds; studies of
contaminant levels in fish, aquatic wildlife, plants, and sedi-
ments; water quality studies related to hydro-electric dams,
including dam removal; studies of cyanobacteria/algal blooms;
assessments of water quality using aquatic invertebrates; and
development of Tribal Water Quality Standards for Pe-
nobscot Nation waters. The program also participates in
many permitting, licensing, and regulatory proceedings that
affect the Penobscot Reservation and its aquatic resources.
Dan serves as the tribal coordinator for the model water
quality monitoring cooperative agreement between Pe-
nobscot Nation and ME DEP. Dan has served as the Region I
tribal representative to the EPA National Tribal Science
Council and the National Tribal Water Council. He serves on
numerous committees including the Technical Advisory Com-
mittee for Maine’s Surface Waters Ambient Toxics Program
and the Maine Dioxin Monitoring Program and is a District
Supervisor for the Penobscot County Soil and Water Con-
servation District. He has a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Uni-
versity of Vermont, and attended graduate school in Wildlife
Biology at University of Maine. He lives in Garland, Maine
with his wife and two boys. Dan enjoys fishing, hunting, run-
ning, coaching basketball, camping, and hiking.
Kutschenreuter, Kathleen. Kathleen is an Environmental
Scientist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s
(EPA) Office of Water Headquarters in Washington D.C. She
has over 20 years of domestic and international experience in
Speaker Bios
Page 47
Page 48
Speaker Bios the areas of environmental research, policy, program devel-
opment and management, and communications. Since joining
EPA in 1997, Kathleen has worked within the Office of Sus-
tainable Ecosystems and Communities and the Office of Wet-
lands, Oceans, and Watersheds to advance local, state, tribal,
national, and international environmental protection and res-
toration efforts. She holds a Master of Environmental Man-
agement from Duke University and two Bachelor of Science
degrees - Zoology (aquatic ecology) and Natural Resource
Management (environmental science/ethics) - from The Ohio
State University. Kathleen served in the U.S. Peace Corps in
Central America and also with the Ohio Department of Nat-
ural Resources prior to joining the EPA. She is a certified
diver, an avid photographer, and adores exploring all things
outdoors, especially with her curious toddler!
LaBerge, Normand, PhD, PE. Normand serves as the
Tribal Engineer for the Passamaquoddy Tribe - Pleasant Point
in Perry, Maine.
LeBlanc, John. ([email protected]) Red Lake Bank
of Chippewa Indians. John LeBlanc has been working for the
Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Environmental Response
Program as the Environmental Response Coordinator since
2010. He is responsible for managing the Tribal Response 128
(a) and Underground Storage Tanks DITCA grants. John is a
federally credentialed UST inspector and he conducts compli-
ance assistance visits as well as UST inspections for Red Lake
and eight other Minnesota Tribes on behalf of US EPA. John is
currently working on the development of UST regulations
comparable to the recently approved federal regulations for
adoption into Red Lake Nation Tribal Law.
Larrick, Colin. Colin is a Water Quality Specialist and
since 2008 he has been leading the Tribes Clean Water Act
Section 106 Monitoring and Assessment Program. His work
includes implementing the Federally approved and Tribally
adopted water quality standards using antidegradation permit-
ting for non-point source projects and working on incorpo-
rating ground water criteria into Tribal standards and devel-
oping a groundwater protection ordinance. Regulatory and
environmental assessments of legacy and active uranium min-
ing and milling impacts to water quality have been a constant
focus of work. He has previous experience as a hydrogeolo-
gist for a private consulting firm. He graduated from Metro-
politan State College in Denver, Colorado with a B.S. in Envi-
ronmental Science in 2005.
Lentz, Rachel. Rachel is the State and Tribal lead in the
Office of Brownfields & Land Revitalization in the EPA Office
of Land and Emergency Management. Rachel has worked in
brownfields for over a decade. Rachel received her under-
graduate degree from the University of Michigan in 2002, and
a law degree from American University, Washington College
of Law in 2010.
Leopard, Matt. Mr. Leopard is the Director for the Office
of Information Collection within the Office of Environmental
Information. Matt has worked in federal government for
over 30 years, starting his career as an officer in the US Ma-
rines Corps, and subsequently working in both state and fed-
eral civilian agencies before joining the EPA in 1991. He has
served in EPA for more than 25 years, including ten years
within the Office of Environmental Information. Matt has ex-
perience in the areas of information policy, acquisition, and
project management; serving in both staff and management
roles within various EPA Offices including the Office of Pollu-
tion Prevention and Toxics, the Office of Information Collec-
tion, and the Office of Information Analysis and Access. Matt
has broad knowledge of EPA’s environmental data collection
rules, processes and systems, having supported numerous
information-related projects involving a wide range of internal
and external communities throughout his career. Matt is a
graduate of the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Sci-
ence in Biology, and holds a Master degree in Biology from
the State University of New York, Buffalo College.
Leven, Blasé. Blasé works for the Technical Assistance to
Brownfields (TAB) Program at Kansas State University and
oversaw development and currently oversees maintenance
and upgrades to BIT.
Limbrick, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a Licensed Site Remedia-
tion Professional (LSRP) in the State of New Jersey. She has
over 20 years of professional experience the development
and oversight of environmental assessment, remediation and
brownfield redevelopment projects. Ms. Limbrick’s experi-
ence includes posts at NJDEP as well as private consulting
firms. Ms. Limbrick is currently a Project Manager at the New
Jersey Institute of Technology, where she is responsible for
providing technical assistance to state, regional, and local gov-
ernments and not-for-profits in EPA Regions 1, 3, and 4 inter-
ested in assessing, remediating and redeveloping brownfield
sites. She also has experience providing expert testimony to
the United States Senate Environmental & Public Works
Committee regarding Cleanup Efforts at Federal Facilities.
Lincoln, Audray. ([email protected]) LUST Preven-
tion/LUST Corrective Action Grant Project Officer, US EPA
Region 6. Audray Lincoln’s background is in Business Admin-
istration/Management. She has over 27 years experience with
EPA Region 6 as a grant project officer, in the UST program
and is a federally-certified UST Inspector for facilities on trib-
al lands. In addition to the Tribal grants she also manages all
grants awarded to the Region 6 States for the LUST Preven-
tion and LUST Corrective Action grants.
Lipson, Gary. Gary has been an On-Scene Coordinator for
28 of his 30 years with the USEPA, Region 1. During that
time, he has conducted dozens of time critical removal ac-
tions, and his high profile emergency responses include 9/11
in New York City, Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Hurri-
cane Sandy in New York/New Jersey, and the Enbridge Oil
Spill in Michigan. Since its inception, Gary has been a member
of the NIMS Integration Team, an EPA national work group
created in 2004 to assist the EPA with the implementation of
the Incident Command System. He is an EPA certified Oper-
ations Section Chief and has taught a number of ICS courses
to EPA and state personnel.
Lloyd, David is the Director of the Office of Brownfields &
Land Revitalization in the EPA Office of Land and Emergency
Response. David assumed this position in January of 2006
after holding a variety of positions in the areas of private and
Government legal practice, real estate operations and devel-
opment. David received his undergraduate degree from
George Washington University in 1985, and a law degree
from Washington and Lee University in 1988.
Longo, Joe. Joe Longo is a Civil Engineer that has led numer-
ous water & wastewater treatment facility planning and design
projects.
Lyon, Jeffrey. Mr. Lyon has been utilizing Geographic Infor-
mation System (GIS) for 17 years working at Santa Clara
Pueblo, NM and Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM in the
Forestry and Environmental fields. My past experience has
afforded me the opportunity to become well-rounded in a
variety of capacities. These include managing a variety of Geo-
spatial data relating to environmental and natural resource
management, designing, implementing, and monitoring large-
scale Geospatial and ecological restoration projects, produc-
ing technical reports; interdisciplinary collaboration; collec-
tion and analysis of technical data. Since October 2015, Mr.
Lyon has been working for ENIPC-OETA under the UST and
Information Exchange programs.
Mann, Heather. ([email protected]) UST Tribal In-
spector, US EPA Region 6. Heather Mann possesses a BSc in
chemistry and law enforcement along with a varied back-
ground in environmental, safety, and health as well as in fo-
rensic and medical chemistry. Her over five years experience
with EPA, Region 6, is as a federally-certified UST Inspector
for facilities on tribal lands. She also provides compliance as-
sistance, training, oversight of tank installations and removals,
and a variety of presentations at tribal regional and national
environmental land forums and conferences.
McInnis, Jean. Ms. McInnis is the Environmental Protection
Administrator for the Mohegan Tribe. She has a BS in Envi-
ronmental Horticulture from the College of Agriculture and
Natural Resources at UCONN and an MS in Environmental
Engineering Technologies from University of New Haven. She
has been at the Mohegan Tribe for 10 years. Environmental
Protection is part of the Compliance and Regulation Depart-
ment which includes five departments.
McKeown, AmyJean. AmyJean McKeown is a Brownfields
Project Officer for EPA¬ Region I, New England. She is the
Brownfields Tribal Coordinator and the Historic Preservation
Coordinator for the program. Ms. McKeown has been em-
ployed by the EPA for 25 years and was an On-scene Coordi-
nator in the Emergency Planning and Response Branch for 18
years before switching to the Brownfields Program.
Miguel, Amy. Amy is an Akimel O'Odham of the Salt River
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. She's been serving her
community in the environmental field for over eight years
who enjoys educating her people with the STEM areas that
are applicable and important in sustaining the Salt River com-
munity.
Mitchell, Dale. Dale is the Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point
Tribal Brownfields Coordinator. He is responsible for manag-
ing the Tribes 128(a) Tribal Response Grant as well as the
Tribes two 104(k) Community Wide Hazardous Waste As-
sessment Grants. Mr. Mitchell is committed to managing the
natural resources with respect and as part of the Tribes cul-
tural right. Mr. Mitchell was the former Waster Resources
Specialist monitoring the coastal waters for Red Tide. He
assesses environmental impacts to Tribal lands ans wasters to
ensure tribal concerns are addressed in permitting and regula-
tory processes. Mr. Mitchell's invaluable knowledge of the
Tribes historical and cultural relationship to the land has ben-
efited the department in developing environmental projects
and goals.
Mix, Rudy. Rudy Mix is the Waste Program Manager for the
Gila River Indian Community, Department of Environmental
Quality. In his 18 years with DEQ, he has conducted a wide
variety of waste program activities, including performing haz-
ardous and solid waste inspections, overseeing site clean ups,
providing technical assistance to regulated businesses, devel-
oping program plans, and developing the GRIC waste ordi-
nance and integrated waste management plan.
Moser, Emily. Emily is a Program Manager at the Council of
Development Finance Agencies, in Columbus, Ohio.
Moya, Ruben. Mr. Moya is the newest addition to the US
EPA, Region 6, Underground Storage Tank Section (February
2016 – Present). Prior to this position, Mr. Moya was an Envi-
ronmental Scientist/Remedial Project Manager (RPM) in the
Region 6 Superfund Division, Arkansas/Texas Section from
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Speaker Bios 1997-2015. He had the lead responsibility for ensuring the
successful completion of cleanup activities at a National Prior-
ity List (NPL) site and for guiding said site through each suc-
cessive phase/step of the USEPA Superfund process. He has
evaluated, selected and implemented appropriate remedies at
NPL sites; ranging in size from two to 6000 acres and also
managing their respective costs; $2Million+. He managed Su-
perfund activities at 14 NPL sites. Before Mr. Moya began his
time with USEPA he was a Commander in the US Coast
Guard. He has earned multiple B.A & B.S degree’s from TX
A&I (Kingsville, TX) and TX A&M (Corpus Christi TX).
Naha, Cynthia. Cynthia Naha is the Environmental Special-
ist for the Santo Domingo Tribe and has been with the Natu-
ral Resources Department for over 2 years. Cynthia has elev-
en years of experience in working in the Tribal Environmental
Field and has a wide variety of background in fields such as:
solid waste, waste diversion, water quality monitoring, Non-
point Source Management, Climate Change, Emergency Re-
sponse and Preparedness, Hazardous Waste, Indoor Air
Quality, Brownfields, and is a certified Unexploded Ordi-
nance Technician Level I. Cynthia also has several years of
grant writing experience and has a passion for working in the
Tribal environmental field.
Nelson, Mark. Mark is an Environmental Engineer with
over 25 years of water & wastewater planning and manage-
ment experience and has worked with EPA and tribes to im-
prove the sustainability of tribal utilities.
Neumann, Jane. Jane is the owner of Second Wind Con-
sulting, works with tribes to empower and grow their re-
sponse capacity. She was EPA's Region 5 Tribal Coordinator
for Superfund and Brownfields for 13 years until she retired
from EPA in 2014. She was raised in Minnesota and moved to
Chicago for college, where she raised her own children.
Nichols, William (Nick). Mr. Nichols has been with EPA
Oil Program and Office of Emergency Management since
1996. He is the Tribal and Environmental Justice Coordinator
working closely with OSWER and external organization to
ensure that OEM fulfills its responsibilities in Indian Country.
Norton, Ken. Ken is the Chair of the National Tribal Wa-
ter Council, an enrolled member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe,
and serves as the Director of the Hoopa Valley Tribal Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency. Ken has expertise in water
quality and the development of water quality standards. He is
also a fisheries expert, understanding the water quality needs
of healthy salmon and other river life, and experienced in
watershed restoration. As TEPA Director, Ken oversees an
array of Tribal water programs, as well as other tribal envi-
ronmental programs (such as superfund, brownfields, air,
pesticides, lead and solid waste). Between 2004-09, Ken
served as the Vice-Chair of the National Tribal Operations
Committee and as the NTOC Tribal Caucus Lead for Water
Issues.
Ohnmeiss, Dale H. Water Quality Specialist for the Ak-
Chin Indian Community. Prior experience includes over 27
years within environmental protection, 11 years managing a
team for Arizona DEQ, 10 years of experience as wellhead
protection specialist for National Rural Water Association, 5
years as CEO for a non-profit technical assistance training
organization to help rural water systems meet the require-
ments of the CWA and SDWA. Over the years Dale has
been recognized both nationally and by the state DEQ for
environmental leadership, Team Management, and TQM
problem solving. Mr. Ohnmeiss is a full-time environmental
scientist and part-time actor. Films listed in the IMDB. Kidney
transplant recipient in 2013 and still going.
Olsen, John O. President and 100% owner of Cree Indus-
tries. Canadian Treaty Indian, from Peguis 1st Nation, Manito-
ba Canada. Went to school in England. Worked for the Ca-
nadian Government in London and West Germany. Became a
salesman in the U.K., selling photocopiers. Returned to Cana-
da, to become National Sales Training Manager. Then worked
in Newspaper advertising, and manufacturing and selling Red
Cedar Log Homes. Started Cree Industries, a biomass busi-
ness in 1981, manufacturing, extruded, 1 kilo “HeatLogs”,
from extruded dried clean sawdust.
Ondrechen, Mary Jo. Mary Jo Ondrechen received the
Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Reed College and the
Ph.D. degree in Chemistry and Chemical Physics from North-
western University in Illinois. After postdoctoral research
appointments at the University of Chicago and at Tel-Aviv
University in Israel, the latter as a NATO Postdoctoral Fel-
low, she joined the faculty at Northeastern University in Bos-
ton, Massachusetts. Currently she is Professor of Chemistry
and Chemical Biology. She is the Principal Investigator of the
Computational Biology Research Group at Northeastern
University. Her research deals with understanding enzyme
catalysis, predicting the function of proteins, and the compu-
tational aspects of drug discovery. She is President of the
Board of Directors of the North American Indian Center of
Boston (NAICOB), has recently served on the Board of Ad-
visers of the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council,
and was the 2011-2013 Chair of the Board of Directors of
the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES).
She is a co-PI on the 2014-2019 project “Lighting the Pathway
to Faculty Careers for Natives in STEM,” an initiative to pro-
vide guidance and support to Native STEM students who
want to become faculty members at universities and tribal
colleges.
Pailzote, Cheryl D. Ms. Pailzote has worked for the White
Mountain Apache Tribe since 2003. Her primary work was as
a hydrologist working on water rights, water resources moni-
toring, and grant administration. She is presently the Project
Manager for the Rural Water System project, which includes
the development of a dam, surface water treatment plant, and
50-mile distribution system. Her other work with the Water
Resources program includes managing the hydrology section,
watershed management, water quality, agriculture, water
rights, and utility.
Pairis, Amber. Dr. Amber Pairis is the Director of the
Climate Science Alliance-South Coast covering southern Cali-
fornia and Baja. Her current work focuses on building a sci-
ence focused network of leaders, scientists, and managers
focused on sharing ecosystem-based resiliency approaches to
safeguard our communities and natural resources from cli-
mate change.
Paiva, Marc. Marc serves as Tribal Liaison Regional Tech-
nical Specialist (Archaeology) for the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers New England District in Concord, MA.
Pashina, Greg. ([email protected]) Environmental Engi-
neer, US EPA Region 6, Dallas, Texas. Greg Pashia joined EPA
in 1990 as an environmental engineer and RCRA enforcement
officer in the Region 6 Hazardous Waste Enforcement
Branch. Greg is currently working in the UST Program as an
inspector, corrective action contact, tribal relations coordina-
tor, and program contact for the UST/LUST program in the
State of Oklahoma. Greg received his B.S. in Social Psycholo-
gy from Southwest Missouri State University in 1972. In 1982
Greg completed his B.S. in Geological Engineering from the
University of Missouri- Rolla and worked as a development,
engineering geologist in the West Texas oil business. Subse-
quent to his work in the oil business, Greg attended Texas
Tech University and Oklahoma State University in 1988 and
1989 where he completed graduate studies in water re-
sources engineering and ground water hydrology. He graduat-
ed in 1989 from Texas Tech University.
Pauquette, Carey. Carey is the Environmental Manager for
the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan (SCIT). Previ-
ously, Carey worked as the Water Quality Specialist for SCIT
for nearly 8 years, with prior experience in the watershed
with partnering agencies. Carey has a diverse background
including work with nonprofit organizations addressing public
outreach and education, solid waste issues, forestry, agricul-
tural best management practices, and more. Establishing part-
nerships and effective solutions through environmental pro-
grams drives Carey’s ambition and enthusiasm for her work
with the Tribe.
Perlman, Gary. Captain Gary Perlman is an Environmental
Health Officer with the U.S. Public Health Service currently
working at ATSDR in Boston. Gary has been working in envi-
ronmental health for 20 years. He provided environmental
health support during the mustard agent incident in New
Bedford, MA, and to residents of LA during the public health
response shortly after Hurricane Katrina made landfall, focus-
ing on the Murphy oil spill. He also has provided environmen-
tal health support on several occasions for large toxic fires or
explosions. He provided the same support to the Group of 8
Summit in GA, the Democratic and Republican National Con-
ventions, the Flint, MI water crisis, and several other National
Special Security Events. He is currently working with the Pe-
nobscot Indian Nation to assess contaminant levels in food
items in their traditional diet. He has assisted with developing
several public health software tools to help first responders
and other personnel assess chemical contamination through-
out the United States, Canada, France, and Romania. Gary
shared these software tools with Tribal attendees at the Na-
tional Tribal Science Council, and the Yukon River Inter-
Tribal Watershed. He incorporated some of their suggestions
to enhance the tools. Gary is also an EMT-B, a licensed ama-
teur radio operator, and a Registered Sanitarian (M.A.).
Poolaw, Kellie J. Ms. Poolaw is a Citizen of the Pawnee
Nation and serves as the Public Information Coordinator for
the Caddo County (OK) Local Emergency Planning Commit-
tee & as Emergency Planner for Caddo County Emergency
Management.
Poore, Christine. Christine Poore is an Environmental Sci-
entist in EPA’s Office of Superfund Remediation and Technol-
ogy Innovation (OSRTI). She has been with OSRTI for nine
years and has worked primarily in the Site Assessment and
Remedy Decision Branch reviewing site decision documents
including Records of Decision (ROD), ROD Amendments,
and Explanations of Significant Difference (ESD). Christine
also serves as a Superfund tribal coordinator. Prior to joining
the EPA, Christine conducted Air Quality Analyses in the DC
metro region, and site operations and maintenance at Super-
fund sites in Southern California. Christine earned an M.S. in
Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity and a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from the
University of Maryland.
Prohaska, John. Mr. Prohaska works for the Bad River Band
of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians as an Environ-
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mental Compliance Specialist in the Environmental Response
Program. He provides assistance to the Tribe to develop and
enforce tribal laws relating to hazardous substance handling,
disposal and emergency response. Mr. Prohaska has 22 years
of experience in environmental protection and compliance,
including three years with the Bad River Band and 19 years
with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. He
has held numerous roles in environmental protection includ-
ing Water Basin Team Leadership, Hazardous Waste Inspec-
tion, Environmental Response and Groundwater Project
Management. He has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental
Science from Northland College. Mr. Prohaska is proud to
protect the natural resources on Reservation that community
members value for a high quality of life.
Puhuyesva, Lionel. Director Hopi Water Resources Pro-
gram. Lionel has been the Director of Hopi Water Resources
Program for over 6 years now, prior work with other tribal
nations includes Ak-Chin Indian Community as Water Quality
Specialist and Salt River-Pima Indian Community as Water
Quality Specialist. Education: Arizona State University with
Justice Studies as a major and Native American Justice Studies
as a minor.
Quinlan, Richard J. Richard Quinlan has been with FEMA
Region I since August of 1987. He possesses comprehensive
knowledge of coordinating requirements and organizational
relationships between Federal, State, local, Tribal, and private
industry gained through his State Liaison Officer duties for
the State of Vermont, a role he has fulfilled for the past twen-
ty six years. Rich has been involved in over thirty five Presi-
dential Disaster Declarations in his career. Rich currently
works in the National Preparedness Division within the Re-
gional Integration Branch and is responsible for all FEMA Re-
gion I External Training and Exercise programs. In his role as
State Liaison Officer, Rich is responsible for implementing the
National Response Framework and the Stafford Act for FE-
MA programs and policies which require full knowledge of
the Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, and Mitigation
programs. He works directly with State Emergency Opera-
tions staff and local officials in conducting and coordinating
Preliminary Damage Assessments for the State and local offi-
cials. The position requires Rich to write, review, and issue
daily Situation and Incident reports that go directly to the
Regional Resource and Coordination Center (RRCC) Direc-
tor for action. He reviews all requests for Federal Assistance
that the Governor and or State Director may request of FE-
MA, as well as coordinates with the subject State Emergency
Management Director and Governor’s Office on any request
that goes to the Regional Office for a Presidential Disaster
Declaration and reviews the State request to make sure it
meets FEMA policy and procedure guidelines for submission
to the President. In addition, Rich, as State Liaison Officer,
works with all Federal Emergency Support Function Groups
(ESFs) and State Emergency Support Function Groups at the
State and local level to implement FEMA programs and poli-
cies in a disaster environment. Rich holds a BA in English
Communications and Public Relations from the Massachusetts
College of Liberal Arts. A native of Vermont, Rich currently
resides in Gloucester, Massachusetts with his son Christo-
pher.
Rash, Jonathan, PE. Jonathan Rash serves as District Engi-
neer for the Nashville Area Indian Health Service in Manlius,
NY.
RedDoor, Charles Bearfighter. Charles is the National
Tribal Programs Coordinator for the Federal, State and Tribal
Programs Branch, Permits and State Programs Division, EPA’s
Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery. He serves as
a member of the Office of Resource Conservation and Re-
covery Tribal Team, works on solid and hazardous waste
policy and guidance, and coordinates tribal solid waste activi-
ties, grants projects, and program measurement data with
other federal agencies. Charles is an enrolled member of the
Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux Nation.
Reed, Angie. Angie is the Water Resource Planner for the
Penobscot Indian Nation. Angie has worked for Indian Na-
tions in some capacity since finishing her MS in 1998, starting
with serving as the Water Resources Specialist for the Houl-
ton Band of Maliseet Indians in northern Maine. Angie helped
Penobscot Indian Nation (PIN) receive their first Exchange
Network grant in 2007 and has used two subsequent grants
to continue building internal capacity for collecting, managing
and sharing their water quality data. The PIN Water Re-
sources Program is now managing all of their data electroni-
cally: from field data collection on smartphones that are used
to populate lab data entry forms all the way through an inter-
nal database structure that is mapped to WQX and ex-
changed with EPA via a PIN node. Current efforts are fo-
cused on incorporating biological data into the internal data-
base and making all data available to PIN leaders and citizens
in a clear and easily-accessible fashion. Angie joined the TGG
efforts shortly after PIN received their first EN grant and
served on the Network Partnership and Resources Group
under the initial governance structure. Water quality issues
on the Penobscot River and the necessary attention they re-
quire have demanded much of her attention over the past
few years. However, because she believes that the work of
TGG is critical to the participation of Indian Nations in envi-
ronmental protection, she continues to be committed to this
effort.
Reeves, Linda. Linda Reeves works for the USEPA as a re-
medial project manager.
Richardson, Matthew. Mr. Richardson is employed by the
US EPA in the Office of Water. He is the primary point per-
son for tribal wastewater infrastructure and works with two
grant programs that build water & wastewater infrastructure
for tribes and Alaskan Native Villages. He formerly helped to
initiate EPA's successful Watersense program prior to which
he worked at an environmental consulting firm. He holds a
Master of Science degree from the University of North Caro-
lina, Chapel Hill, School of Public Health and a chemistry de-
gree from St. Michael's College.
Richardson, Robin. Ms. Richardson is the Deputy Director
for the Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology In-
novation, which manages the national Superfund Remedial
Program. Robin has more than twenty years’ experience
working in the Superfund program. She started her Superfund
career in 1987 as a consultant to the Superfund Response
program providing information technology, and program and
resource management support. Robin joined EPA’s Office of
Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER), Office of
Emergency and Remedial Response in 1989 as an analyst
working closely with the regions in implementing the Super-
fund program. Since then Robin has held many positions, both
public and private sector, supporting the Superfund program.
In January 2010, Robin became the Director of the Superfund
Remedial Program’s Resources Management Division respon-
sible for managing the Superfund Remedial budget, infor-
mation technology and acquisition functions. She has a degree
in International Studies from Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa,
and has completed graduate work in Public Administration at
the George Washington University.
Rodriguez, Reuben. Reuben is the Solid Waste Program
Assistant at the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians. He has been
working with the Tribe over 10 years for non-point source,
roads, and solid waste programs.
Rosen, Barry. Barry was born and grew up in rural Con-
necticut and earned his Bachelors of Science in Botany from
University of Connecticut and received a Ph. D. in biology
from the Bowling Green State University. He has worked in
the field of algae more than 40 years, with emphasis on un-
derstanding harmful algal blooms. He has worked for the U.S.
Geological Survey’s Southeastern Region since 2006 and is
the SE Regional Tribal Liaison.
Roy, Rob. Rob is the Environmental Director for the La Jolla
Band of Luiseno Indians and has been employed by the Tribe
for over 14 years. He is responsible for the Environmental
Protection Office which employs a staff of seven people
working on clean water, air quality, solid waste, wastewater,
natural resources, and other critical environmental and hu-
man health issues. Rob received the EPA Environmental
Achievement Award in 2008 for his work with solid waste
management including recycling, reducing illegal dumping, haz-
ardous and electronic waste recycling, tire cleanup, and disas-
ter recovery. He works hard to foster collaboration between
groups to achieve common goals and increase the scope and
impact of projects. He also serves as a member of the
TWRAP steering committee, as an RTOC rep and RTOC
Solid Waste Workgroup lead, and as team co-lead on the
Interagency Infrastructure Task Force Solid Waste
Workgroup. Rob has a passion for the natural world and goes
traveling, hiking and backpacking whenever he can.
Ruesch, Paul. Federal On-Scene Coordinator, Superfund
Division, United States Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 5. Paul is a Federal On-Scene Coordinator in the Su-
perfund emergency response program, which serves the
Great Lakes Region. He served as incident commander at the
Tiskilwa ethanol derailment in 2011 and Galena crude oil unit
train derailment in Galena last year. Paul has been working at
EPA since 1991. He took a break from EPA from 2004-2007
to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mexico, working for
the Mexican government on remediation projects & emergen-
cy response training & planning within the state-run oil refin-
ery system PEMEX. He actively assists US AID on enhance-
ment of waste management in Central America and the Car-
ibbean in accordance with international trade agreements
NAFTA & CAFTA.
Moya, Ruben. Mr. Moya is the newest addition to the US
EPA, Region 6, Underground Storage Tank Section (February
2016 – Present). Prior to this position, Mr. Moya was an Envi-
ronmental Scientist/Remedial Project Manager (RPM) in the
Region 6 Superfund Division, Arkansas/Texas Section from
1997-2015. He had the lead responsibility for ensuring the
successful completion of cleanup activities at a National Prior-
ity List (NPL) site and for guiding said site through each suc-
cessive phase/step of the US EPA Superfund process. He has
evaluated, selected and implemented appropriate remedies at
NPL sites; ranging in size from two to 6000 acres and also
managing their respective costs; $2Million+. He managed Su-
perfund activities at Fourteen NPL sites. Before Mr. Moya
began his time with USEPA he was a Commander in the US
Coast Guard. He has earned multiple B.A & B.S degree’s from
TX A&I (Kingsville, TX) and TX A&M (Corpus Christi TX).
Ruge, Zoe. Zoe is an ORISE research participant with the
U.S. EPA Standards and Health Protection Division in the
Office of Science and Technology, Office of Water. She is the
tribal coordinator for the Office of Science and Technology
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and a member of the workgroup for the Tribal Baseline Wa-
ter Quality Standards effort.
Russell, Sam. Sam is the Tribal Drinking Water Coordina-
tor with the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Ground Water and Drinking Water. He is a licensed engineer
with the State of Arizona, holds undergraduate and graduate
degrees in civil engineering, as well as a masters of public
health degree from The Johns Hopkins University. He com-
pleted his Peace Corps service in Cote d’Ivoire followed by
eight years with the Navajo Area Indian Health Service
providing water and sewer service to Tribal members in
Kayenta, AZ. Prior to EPA, he spent two years with the Na-
tional Park Service in Transportation Safety.
Sabatino, Leonard. Leonard is originally from Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania and received a bachelor’s of science degree in
the field of geo-environmental studies in 2001 from Shippens-
burg, Pennsylvania. In 2002, Leonard received certification in
permaculture design from La'akea farms on the Big Island of
Hawaii. From 2003 through 2011, Leonard worked at the Los
Alamos National Laboratory in the fields of geology, environ-
mental science, and geomorphology. Since June of 2012,
Leonard has been working for Eight Northern Indian Pueblos
Council on the UST Program for 21 NM pueblos and tribes
encompassing 46 UST facilities. Leonard is currently a certi-
fied Steel Tank Institute UST Cathodic Protection Tester.
Salyer, Kathleen. Kathleen is the Deputy Director of the
Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery at US EPA, a
position she has held since January 2015. The Office is re-
sponsible for promoting resource conservation through sus-
tainable materials management, ensuring safe management of
solid and hazardous waste and cleaning up environmental
contamination at hazardous waste management facilities. As a
part of this mission, the Office administers the Hazardous
Waste Management Grant Program for Tribes and the Tribal
Waste Management Capacity Building Training Grant. Prior
to her current position Kathleen was an Assistant Director of
the Superfund Program in US EPA Region 9 in San Francisco,
CA. She has over 18 years’ experience cleaning up contami-
nated sites. Kathleen has a BA in Geology from Whitman
College and a Masters’ in Environmental Public Policy from
University of Maryland, College Park.
Sanscrainte, Jennifer. Jennifer Sanscrainte, Short Cressman
& Burgess PLLC, concentrates her practice on environmental,
Native American and water law issues. She represents clients
in complex multi-party environmental litigation and private
allocation processes, involving cost recovery and contribution
actions, natural resource damage claims, and environmental
insurance claims. Jennifer advises Tribal clients and businesses
on matters related to water rights, storm water and water
quality.
Schmandt Ferguson, Kelly. Kelly is the Environmental
Director for the Santa Ynez Chumash Environmental Office.
As Director, she oversees the Tribe’s natural resource pro-
grams including water quality, land restoration, energy and
building performance, green job training, sustainable landscap-
ing, waste management, and environmental planning. Kelly is
happy to assist other organizations and tribe’s advance their
waste management and zero waste efforts and encourage
those with questions to contact her at 805-245-6294 or kfer-
Schuldt, Nancy. Nancy has served as the Fond du Lac Band
of Lake Superior Chippewa's Water Projects Coordinator
since 1997. She developed the Band's water quality standards
and long-term monitoring program, and is finalizing numeric
nutrient criteria for lakes and biological criteria for streams
on the reservation, located in northeastern Minnesota. She
has directed research into fish contaminants and sediment
chemistry to characterize mercury impacts to Fond du Lac
Band members, collaborated on research into wild rice ecol-
ogy and toxicity, as well as watershed hydrologic modeling to
inform management and restoration efforts. She participates
in numerous local, regional, and binational working groups to
ensure the tribal perspective is represented, and initiated a co
-operative wastewater management project with the non-
tribal community to service a heavily developed lake on the
Reservation. She initiated the tribe's nonpoint source man-
agement program, and leads the Band's environmental review
of mining and energy industry impacts to treaty-protected re-
sources. Nancy has a degree in Biology from the University of
Dayton, and a Master's Degree in Aquatic Ecology from the
University of Kansas.
Shannon, Anahma. Anahma Shannon has been the Nome-
based Kawerak Backhaul Program coordinator for the past
six years. Kawerak is dedicated to serving the 20 federally
recognized tribes in the Bering Strait Region. Its Backhaul
Program works at providing technical assistance and helping
to build capacity within the region’s twenty IGAP programs,
namely in solid waste management but also in other environ-
mental areas, as well. Anahma and her family live in a cabin
outside of Nome and enjoy hunting, gardening, fishing, camp-
ing, and flying around the region.
Shapiro, Michael H. Mr. Shapiro joined the Office of Wa-
ter as the Deputy Assistant Administrator in November
2002. Prior to that, he was the Principal Deputy Assistant
Administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response (OSWER). Mr. Shapiro has also served as Director
of the Office of Solid Waste, and Deputy Assistant Adminis-
trator for the Office of Air and Radiation, where he directed
implementation of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments.
From 1980 to 1989, Mr. Shapiro held a variety of positions in
the Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, where one of
his responsibilities was developing EPA’s Toxic Release Inven-
tory. Mr. Shapiro has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from
Lehigh and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Har-
vard. He has also taught in the public policy program at the
John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Shumway, Laura. Laura is a biologist in the Office of Wa-
ter for the USEPA and is the USEPA HQ WQX training lead.
Simmons, Joshua. Mr. Simmons a consultant and attorney
who founded Prosper Sustainably in May 2014 to assist tribal
communities in the development and implementation of last-
ing solutions to meet environmental and sustainability needs.
Josh has been conducting trainings and assisting tribes on the
following types of projects: 1) preparing an EPA-Tribal Envi-
ronmental Plans (ETEPs), 2) preparing Integrated Waste Man-
agement Plans (IWMPs), 3) grant writing, 4) solar project
planning, 5) drafting Tribal Environmental Codes, and 6) stra-
tegic planning. Josh also instructs environmental code devel-
opment, IWMP, ETEP, and grant writing trainings for tribal
professionals. Prior to starting Prosper, Josh served as Envi-
ronmental Director for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash
Indians. Under Josh's oversight from 2007 to 2014 the Santa
Ynez Chumash Environmental Office (SYCEO) grew from 1
to 15+ employees, 2 to 20+ programs, and $100,000 to
$1,000,000 in annual revenue. During that time the Santa
Ynez Chumash also became a nationwide leader in sustaina-
bility and environmental stewardship. Josh is originally from
Connecticut and his environmental career began as an intern
with the Mohegan Tribe’s Environmental Office in 1999.
Smart, Allison. Allison Smart is the Environmental Coordi-
nator for the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. She has a
bachelor's degree in biology and anthropology from Albion
College and a master's degree in conservation biology from
Central Michigan University. She started working with wild
rice in 2010 as a graduate student studying the habitat param-
eters in Michigan. She started as an aquatic biologist in 2012
with the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, where she con-
tinued her work and research on wild rice growing LRBOI's
mannomin program.
Smith, David. Dave Smith is with EPA’s Office of Environ-
mental Information, managing EPA’s Facility Registry Service,
which integrates data on 4 million places of interest from al-
most 90 different data systems. Mr. Smith is a geospatial tech-
nologist with over 20 years of experience in working with
geographic information, as well as being a licensed civil engi-
neer and professional land surveyor.
Smith, Robert. Robert Smith, TRP-Brownfields Coordina-
tor, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, SD Has been working for
the CRST Environmental Protection Dept. for 14 years. Start-
ed out as a tech/GPS personnel, then became the Brownfields
Coordinator in 2006. During this time I have assessed a lot of
the Tribal property, including many home sites, using the US-
EPA Targeted Brownfield Assessment (TBA) process and has
been an oversight officer on a number of abatement/
demolition projects on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Res-
ervation. We also have had two Brownfield clean ups and
multiple EPA emergency Response Actions.
Snowden, Kami. Kami is the Executive Director of the
Tribal Solid Waste Advisory Network (TSWAN) has over 25
years of experience working in the environmental field, the
last 15+ years directly for the TSWAN organization. Her
experience includes technical aspects with operating and man-
aging waste systems, providing education and outreach, devel-
oping programs and special projects, and grants management.
Prior to working for the TSWAN organization Ms. Snowden
was the director of the solid waste department in a rural
county of Washington State overseeing environmental pro-
grams, landfill operations, and the construction and operation
of transfer stations. During her current tenure with TSWAN,
Ms. Snowden has developed many programs specific to tribes
on a national basis, including construction of a Tribal Integrat-
ed Waste Management Plan Template (and ancillary docu-
ments such as worker safety & health); unprecedented educa-
tion and certification in Methamphetamine (and other clan-
destine) Lab recognition for tribal workers; Strategic Plans for
Environmental Sustainability for Tribes (template); Various
training venues for tribal environmental workers, et.al.
Snyder, Jessica. Ms. Snyder started as the Tribal Program
Coordinator for EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Man-
agement in September 2015. Prior to joining OLEM, Jessica
worked in EPA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer where
she served as the OCFO’s Tribal Program Coordinator and
Tribal Consultation Advisor, as well as the performance ana-
lyst for the Office of International and Tribal Affairs. Jessica
began her career at EPA in 2006 as a member of EPA’s Envi-
ronmental Internship Program where she worked in OCFO’s
Office of Financial Services, Office of Congressional and Inter-
governmental Affairs, EPA Region 9’s Air Division, and the
Office of Management and Budget. Prior to her work at EPA
headquarters, Jessica interned at EPA’s Region 2 Environmen-
tal Finance Center at Syracuse University. Jessica holds a
Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell
School at Syracuse University and Bachelor of Arts Degree in
Sociology and Political Science from Villanova University.
Soscia, Mary Lou. Mary Lou is the Columbia River Coordi-
nator for the U.S. EPA Region 10 Office of Water and Water-
sheds. Mary Lou leads the Columbia River Toxics Reduction
Strategy, the Columbia River Toxics Reduction Working
Group, and the implementation of the 2010 Columbia River
Basin Toxics Reduction Action Plan. She also led the collabo-
ration for the Oregon Water Quality Standards human health
criteria. Since 2013, Mary Lou has led the collaboration with
Idaho Tribal Governments to address Idaho human health
criteria revisions and develop the ID Tribal Fish Consumption
Survey. Mary Lou is also the EPA workgroup manager for the
Tribal Baseline Water Quality Standards work effort to
Speaker Bios
Page 55
Page 56
Speaker Bios promulgate federal water quality standards for tribal reserva-
tions without EPA approved standards.
Stalcup, Dana. Dana has served as the Director of EPA’s
Assessment and Remediation Division (ARD) in the Super-
fund Program since January 2014, and before that was the
Associate Division Director beginning March 2013. Prior to
joining ARD, Dana served as Acting Associate Director of
EPA’s Technology and Innovation and Field Services Division
in 2012. Dana joined EPA in 1991, initially working in EPA’s
Oil Spill Program. After the attacks of 9/11, he joined EPA’s
Emergency Response and Homeland Security preparedness
program, and worked extensively on both the Hurricane
Katrina (2005/2006) and Deepwater Horizon BP Gulf Oil Spill
(2010) responses. Prior to joining EPA, Dana worked for
several years with a government contractor. Dana has a
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Univer-
sity of Notre Dame, a Master of Engineering Administration
degree from Virginia Tech, and is a Registered Professional
Engineer in Virginia. Dana has been happily married to Cindy
for 30 years and they have six children (five sons then a
daughter) ranging in age from a married college graduate to a
6th grader.
Steere, Bradly. Brad has been involved with utilities for
just over 30 years both working for a contractor and has
spent the last ten years with Atlantic States Rural Water &
Wastewater Association as a Water Quality Specialist and a
Water and Wastewater Technical Assistance specialist.
Stover, Michael, PE. Michael Stover currently serves as the
Indian Program Manager for EPA Region 1 in Boston, MA.
Suter, Laurie. Ms. Suter’s background includes geology,
minerals exploration, oil and gas, soils analysis, laboratory
administration, Brownfields, and biology. As the Mineral Re-
sources Administrator of the Natural Resources Department
for the Tohono O’odham Nation, her duties include monitor-
ing all mining related activities. The Nation is a federally rec-
ognized tribe located in southern Arizona consisting of 2.8
million acres of desert terrain with two active mines as well
as hundreds of patented, unpatented, legacy, orphaned and
abandoned mine sites on the Nation. Ms. Suter has worked
for the Nation since 2008.
Thomas, Nicholas. Nick Thomas, Short Cressman & Bur-
gess PLLC, concentrates his practice on environmental mat-
ters, including matters arising under the Comprehensive Envi-
ronmental Response, Compensatory and Liability Act and
Washington's Model Toxics Control Act. He regularly han-
dles administrative and civil litigation matters. Nick repre-
sents clients in regulatory actions and represents Indian
Tribes in environmental and natural resource matters.
Thunderhawk, Brian. Brian is an experienced construc-
tion industry foreman, has a Bachelors in Business Admin-
istration, and is presently the Executive Director of the
Standing Rock Housing Authority.
Tillman, Chuck. Chuck Tillman is the Sr. Director of Oper-
ations for the Choctaw Nation Travel Plazas. Choctaw Na-
tion owns and operates 15 Travel Plazas located in the his-
toric tribal boundaries of Southeast Oklahoma. Previous to
this position Chuck has served as an Energy Manager for the
Choctaw Nation Utility Authority, and a UST Program Moni-
tor for the Choctaw Nation. He has been employed with
Choctaw Nation for 12 years. Prior to working for the Choc-
taw Nation, he was employed with the Oklahoma Depart-
ment of Environmental Quality as a Sr. Environmental Special-
ist. Chuck is certified as a CEM, Certified Energy Manager,
through the Association of Energy Engineers. He also is a
Registered Environmental Specialist/Registered Sanitarian
with both the State of Oklahoma and the National Environ-
mental Health Association. Tillman earned a BS in Microbiol-
ogy from University of Texas at Arlington.
Timms, Doug. Doug has been building IT solutions for
tribes for the past 15 years and has been involved in the Ex-
change Network since its inception. In 2011, he founded
Open Environment Software, a company whose primary mis-
sion is to create high-quality open source software that can
be freely shared among regulatory agencies.
Todd, John. Dr. John Todd is professor Emeritus of Uni-
versity of Vermont, President-Todd Ecological, and recipient
of the first 2008 Buckminster Fuller Design Award, among
many others.
Tohannie, Roberta. Roberta assists with coordination of
ITEP's waste management and response activities under the
Tribal Solid Waste Education and Assistance Program and
Tribal Waste and Response Assistance Program.
Tong, Dolly. Dolly is the U.S. EPA Region 5 Tribal Solid
Waste and Pollution Prevention Coordinator, serving 35 fed-
erally recognized tribes in the Great Lakes region on integrat-
ed waste management, toxics reduction, and other sustaina-
bility issues. Dolly has been in this position since 1995 and
with EPA Region 5 since 1989. She has a B.A. in Environmen-
tal Studies from Northeastern Illinois University.
Turner, LaDonna. Ms. Turner is the EPA Region 6 Super-
fund Site Assessment Manager and Superfund Tribal Coordi-
nator. She has been with the Superfund Program and been
working with Tribes for over 20 years. She serves as a team
member for the Grants Mining District Team since 2008.
Unsworth, Robert. Mr. Unsworth, a Principal and Director
at Industrial Economics, Incorporated (IEc), is a recognized
expert in environmental impacts assessment and natural re-
source damage assessment. He has over 30 years experience
helping clients understand the economic, financial, and cultur-
al impacts of environmental change. His work has been con-
ducted in the context of retrospective assessments of
catestrophoic events (wildland fire, oil spills, hazardous waste
releases), as well as prospective assessments of changes ex-
pected to result from programs and policies. He has worked
with more than 20 tribes assessing the impacts of oil spills and
legacy hazardous substance releases; in assigning prices to
easements across tribal lands; and valuing tribal natural re-
sources. He has testified as an expert witness both in litiga-
tion and in the context of regulatory proceedings. He pub-
lished the first paper on Habitat Equivalency and is frequently
asked to speak on the state-of-the-art of natural resource
damage assessment. Mr. Unsworth holds a B.S. degree in For-
estry from the State University of New York, and a Masters
of Forest Science from Yale Univeristy, where his studies
focused on environmental economics. He is based in Cam-
bridge, Massachusetts but has worked throughout the U.S.
and in the Carribean, Europe, and Africa. In addition to serv-
ing on the Board at IEc, he is a member of the Board of the
Student Conservation Association and the Yale Alumni Ser-
vice Corps.
Vaughn, BryAnna. BryAnna is the Water Quality Coordi-
nator, Bishop Paiute Tribe. BryAnna has worked for the
Tribe’s Water Quality Control Program since 2007. The
Tribe has had an Exchange Network (EN) grant since 2008.
The main focus of the EN projects has been to build the
Tribe’s capacity to exchange data, both to EPA and data part-
ners, more efficiently and effectively. The Tribe collects con-
tinuous air and water data, which amounts to an enormous
amount of data requiring intense data management and spe-
cialized database tools for data validation, analysis, and organi-
zation. These efforts have led to improved data management,
improved submissions, better access to and analysis of climate
data. Projects have also included extensive database develop-
ment, both in-house and cloud-based, mainly for our continu-
ous water quality data. Streamlining data collection is also a
part of the Tribe’s data management goals. Currently the
Tribe is doing this through the creation of tablet-based field
forms specific to various environmental projects. BryAnna
joined the Tribal Governance Group in 2012 to advocate for
tribal participation in the Exchange Network. She sits on the
EN Interoperability and Operations Team (IOT) and various
Integrated Project Teams (IPTs) as needed. In relation to this
work, you will often hear her state, “Tribes are not like
states, and they are even less like each other.”
Walker, Stuart. Mr. Walker has been employed by U.S.
EPA in Washington, DC since 1990 working on issues regard-
ing the cleanup of contaminated sites. His primary areas of
responsibility include serving as the Superfund remedial pro-
gram's Superfund remedial program’s National Radiation Ex-
pert, which includes developing national policy for characteri-
zation, cleanup and management of radioactive contamination
at CERCLA sites. Stuart was a member of the ITRC Radionu-
clides team and an instructor on three of their Internet-based
training courses. Stuart earned a bachelor's degree in political
science and economics from American University and a mas-
ter's degree in policy analysis and development from George
Washington University.
Weaver, Jim. ([email protected]) US EPA Office of Re-
search and Development. Dr. Jim Weaver has worked for the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research
and Development for over 25 years, both at the Ecosystems
Research Division in Athens, Georgia and the Ground Water
Research Center in Ada, Oklahoma. His work focusses on
the application of contaminant fate and transport process
modeling to environmental cleanup and assessment. He is the
developer of the Hydrocarbon Spill Screening Model, The
ERO3S oil spill model, the EPA OnSite on-line calculators,
and the upcoming PVIScreen model for assessing petroleum
vapor intrusion. He received a B.S. in Forest Engineering
from the State University of New York College of Environ-
mental Science and Forestry and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in
Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.
Williams, Scott. Scott is the Senior Technical Assistance
Specialist for United South and Eastern Tribes Inc. He is
charged with providing Training and Technical Assistance to
Tribal Utility Staff. Scott has a Bachelor’s Degree in Environ-
mental Science with emphasis in Ecology. He has 28 years
working in the Water and Wastewater field. He has a New
York Grade IA Filtration Plant Water System Operator’s Li-
cense and a Tennessee Grade IV Water Treatment Plant Op-
erator’s License. He has worked in both Water and
Wastewater facilities as operator and manager. His love for
the outdoors has kept him in the Environmental field. He is
an avid sportsman and gardener. He prides himself is teaching
old school technology in this fast paced world.
Speaker Bios
Page 57
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Speaker Bios
Wilson, Steve. Steve is a groundwater hydrologist who has
been at the Illinois State Water Survey since 1983. He au-
thored The Private Well Class, an online self-paced curricu-
lum for private well owners and those that work with them.
His applied research has been related to assessing aquifer
characteristics, arsenic in groundwater, private wells, and
support for small water and wastewater systems. Steve has a
M. S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign.
Witkin, Steve. Steve is EPA’s project officer for the TRI
Explorer, TRI.NET, and TRI Analyzer data access tools. Steve
has been with the EPA for 19 years, most of the time working
with TRI data. Prior to his federal career, he had a short stint
with Maryland state government and spent more than 15
years in private industry as a mechanical and test engineer.
His involvement with the TRI program began in 1987 as part
of the regulated community. Steve is often called upon to
assist reporters and researchers in navigating through the TRI
data.
National Tribal Mining Workgroup:
Upcoming Training Opportunity
The Mining Lifecycle: Tribal Engagement
and Environmental Responsibility Training
As a follow-up to the Mining and National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 101 Training,
the Nez-Perce Tribe in conjunction with National
Tribal Mining Workgroup (NTMW), the U.S. EPA
and various environmental and mining experts will
host "The Mining Lifecycle: Tribal Engagement and
Environmental Responsibility" Training in Phoenix-
Gilbert, AZ on November 2-3, 2016 with a Mine
Tour on November 4, 2016. This training will be
even bigger, with more attendees, presentation
content, federal and private collaboration, more
presenters, luncheons, a mine tour and evening
events. Mark your calendars for this important
event!
Training Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix-
Gilbert, 1800 S SanTan Village Parkway, Gilbert,
AZ 85295
Registration and Cost: No registration fee is
associated with this event, however seats are
limited to 100 participants. Participation and
attendance to The Mining Lifecycle Training
is intended for Tribal Affiliates only due to limited
space. As we get closer to the training date
and have the availability we may open registrations
up to the private sector. Please contact us with
any questions you may have about participating in
this event.
For more information and to register please go to
www.ntmw.org/mining-lifecycle-201-training.html
NOTES:
Page 59
ITEP’s Online Training and Onsite Mentoring
Online Training for Tribal Environmental Professionals
Since 1992 ITEP has been assisting tribes develop their own capacity in effectively and efficiently manag-
ing their environmental programs through a variety of training courses, technical assistance, and nation-
al conferences, such as the Tribal lands and Environment Forum.
We are very pleased to offer a new opportunity for tribal professionals to learn new skills and advance
their knowledge through a series of self-paced online trainings. These online courses cover a variety of
environmental media and allow you to pursue continuing education units (CEUs).
Some of the benefits of these online courses include: returning to work on current courses where you
left off, connecting with other environmental tribal professionals through discussion forums, and access-
ing resources, videos, and certificates from previously completed courses. These online courses contain
assignments, activities, quizzes, videos, tribal examples, discussion forms, and additional resources.
While they are self-paced, each course provides the opportunity for individual interaction with subject
matter experts.
To access current courses you can set up a free account by visiting itep.scholarlms.com/courses/login/
index.php. You can also visit the main page at itep.scholarlms.com/catalog/ to view our current course
offerings.
For more information, contact Jennifer Williams at [email protected].
Onsite Mentoring Opportunities for Tribal Solid Waste Professionals
While in-person and online trainings can be invaluable in helping you develop new skills and learn new
techniques, sometimes what you need is to just spend some time with a colleague, one-on-one, and fo-
cus on your specific challenges.
As part of ITEP’s Tribal Solid Waste Education and Assistance Program (TSWEAP), we have been pair-
ing tribal solid waste professionals with experts who have faced, and overcome, challenges in waste
management and diversion. Often these mentor matches can be conducted through phone calls or
emails, but sometimes it is more helpful to actually visit a mentoring tribe, or have an expert come visit
your tribal facilities—allowing both participants to learn from one another and problem solve together.
Tribal solid waste professionals can apply to ITEP and request one of these onsite mentoring opportu-
nities. If the application is accepted, ITEP staff will find a mentor for you, conduct a conference call
where you can meet the mentor and discuss your challenges in more detail, and then arrange to visit
them, or have them come to your community. Under this project, ITEP will reimburse all the travel ex-
penses for the individual traveling as part of the mentoring project.
To learn more about this project, please visit our website at: nau.edu/itep/main/Waste/waste_mentors.
You can also contact either Todd Barnell ([email protected]) or Julie Jurkowski
([email protected]) to obtain an application or learn more about the program.
ITEP’s Online Training and Onsite Mentoring
TRC is a leader in providing consultation services to Native American and other descendent
communities. Over the past three decades, TRC has provided such consultation services regarding
environmental issues, sacred sites, TCPs and areas of concern for literally hundreds of projects for, and with,
Native American entities.
TRC’s experts have extensive experience in environmental assessment/impact studies; Brownfields
contaminated site grant writing/assessment/remediation; water resource assessment/development; wetlands
assessment/mitigation; permitting and compliance associated with wastewater, stormwater, air, solid and
hazardous waste, and petroleum storage tanks; asbestos, mold and lead based paint assessment/abatement;
sustainability/energy efficiency/renewable energy assessments; and community outreach.
TRC is over 4,100 technical professionals and support personnel at more than 120 offices throughout the
U.S. Our clients depend on TRC’s multidisciplinary teams to design solutions to their toughest challenges in
the energy, environmental and infrastructure arenas.
Please contact Jim Peronto, P.E. at (860)298-6233 or Howard Higgins at (505)761-0099 or visit
www.trcsolutions.com for more information.
Page 60
Comprehensive Environmental & Sustainability Consulting & Legal Services
Program Design ● Drafting Codes ● Grant Writing
ETEPs ● Strategic Planning ● Resource Management Plans
Feasibility Studies ● Project Management ● Training
Prosper Sustainably has assisted over a hundred tribes and other organizations through consulting and training
activities. In our work with clients, we always seek to build capacity, increase self-sufficiency, and develop lasting
solutions.
As the founder of Prosper Sustainably my journey has come full circle with a return to the Mohegan Reservation
for the Tribal Lands and Environment Forum. My career as a tribal environmental professional began in 1999 as a
high school intern working for Mohegan’s Environmental Administrator. That experience guided my educational
and career path, which included growing the Santa Ynez Chumash Environmental Office from 1 to 15 employees,
$100k to $1 million in annual funding, and 2 to 20+ programs.
Since 2014 Prosper Sustainably has been helping tribes across the nation to successfully build and grow environ-
mental, sustainability, and other programs. Please connect with us to learn more, sign up for our email list, or
schedule a free initial consultation.
Sincerely,
Joshua M. Simmons
Principal Consultant / Attorney
prospersustainably.com | (805) 694-8089 | [email protected]
Page 61
Facility Map Lobby (Upper) Level—Meeting Rooms: Trainings/Breakouts
Lower Level—Uncas Ballroom: Plenaries/Multi-Media Meetup
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
Northern Arizona University
Box 15004
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Ph: 928-523-9555
Fx: 928-523-1266
http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/Home/
Please recycle this booklet
Return this booklet to the Registration Table for easy recycling, or recycle it
when you’re done by placing in a recycling bin. Thank you!
Special Thanks…
ITEP would like to extend a special thanks to the National Tribal Waste and
Response Assistance Program Steering Committee who helped plan,
orchestrate and otherwise make this TLEF a success! Thanks also goes out to
the Mohegan Tribe for their wonderful assistance!